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Background and objectives: Stroke commonly results in physical dysfunction and seriously affects the quality of life. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and association of resilience with the quality of life among patients at hospitalization and whether the association was independent of physical function, anxiety, depression, and other population characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital included 215 individuals. The Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was used to evaluate resilience. Stroke Scale Quality of life was used to measure the quality of life. Other validated questionnaires were used to assess physical function (Functional Independency Measure), anxiety, and depression (the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to determine the association between psychological factors and quality of life. Multiple linear regression was also used to examine whether resilience independently affects the quality of life. Results: The mean score of 215 participants' resilience was 62.36 ± 13.965. Resilience, anxiety, and depression were separately significantly associated with quality of life. Resilience was negatively associated with anxiety and depression. Subjects with high scores of resilience showed a higher quality of life at patients' hospitalization (Standardized Coefficients = 0.275) independent of physical function, anxiety, depression, disease-related characteristics, and sociodemographic characteristics. Discussion: Resilience was an independent predictor of quality of life beyond anxiety and depression in patients with ischemic stroke. Interventions aimed at improving resilience at acute hospitalization might be a worthwhile addition to improve quality of life early after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communicational signals (e.g. lights and horns) are imperative for on-road interaction between drivers. The aim of the present study was to explore how these signals affect drivers' subjective appraisal and visual attention, and how drivers decode the signals from other vehicles within a variety of interactive contexts. Twenty-five male participants (20 valid samples, ranging from 21 to 29 years of age) were recruited to watch film clips of pre-designed interactive scenarios involving common vehicle signals in a full-view simulator (i.e. including road view and mirror views). Participants' attitudes towards the interacting vehicle's behaviours, emotional responses, fixation metrics, and decoded meanings were recorded and analysed. The majority of tested signals, with the exception of the horn used in the behind vehicles, significantly improved drivers' attitudes and pleasure. All signals significantly increased emotional arousal, as well as the total fixation time and mean fixation duration on the interacting vehicle. When the interacting vehicle was visible in mirrors, the signal usage significantly increased the fixation frequency towards it. Meanwhile, a significant decrease in total fixation time and mean fixation duration on the road was reported. The results also demonstrated that the decoded signal contained several meanings simultaneously depending on both the signal type and its interactive context. This study quantified the communication process via vehicular signals under typical situations involving other vehicles, and also suggested new ideas on how to establish more advanced communication between drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conclusion: The deficient regulatory T cells may play a role in the development of allergic rhinitis. Objective: A subpopulation of regulatory T cell that produce IL-17a were proved to show an apparent duality of regulatory T cell and effector T helper-17 cells. We studied this subpopulation in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: Fresh whole blood from 20 patients with allergic rhinitis and 19 healthy donors was used to investigate the frequencies of CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells (effector T helper-1), CD4+IL-4+ T cells (effector T helper-2) and CD4+IL-17a+ T cells (effector T helper-17) by flow cytometry after stimulation for 4-6 h. Simultaneously, CD4+ T lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and then the frequencies of regulatory T cells and IL-17a-producing regulatory T cells in the allergic rhinitis group were compared with healthy controls after T-cell antigen receptor stimulation for 48 h. The suppressive capacity of CD4+CD25highCD127low regulatory T cells that were stimulated by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in both groups was isolated and assessed. Results: The frequencies of effector T helper-17 and effector T helper-2 cells were higher in the allergic group compared with healthy controls. Regulatory T cells were similar in both groups, but IL-17a-producing regulatory T cells were increased in the allergic group. In addition, the capacity of regulatory T cells to suppress effector T helper-17 cytokine production was significantly decreased in the allergic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]