Bodily attractiveness and egalitarianism are negatively related in males

Ancestrally, relatively attractive individuals and relatively formidable males may have had reduced incentives to be egalitarian (i.e., to act in accordance with norms promoting social equality). If selection calibrated one's egalitarianism to one's attractiveness/formidability, then such people may exhibit reduced egalitarianism ("observed egalitarianism") and be perceived by others as less egalitarian ("perceived egalitarianism") in modern environments. To investigate, we created 3D body models of 125 participants to use both as a source of anthropometric measurements and as stimuli to obtain ratings of bodily attractiveness and perceived egalitarianism. We also measured observed egalitarianism (via an economic "dictator" game) and indices of political egalitarianism (preference for socialism over capitalism) and "equity sensitivity." Results indicated higher egalitarianism levels in women than in men, and moderate-to-strong negative relationships between (a) attractiveness and observed egalitarianism among men, (b) attractiveness and perceived egalitarianism among both sexes, and (c) formidability and perceived egalitarianism among men. We did not find support for two previously-reported findings: that observed egalitarianism and formidability are negatively related in men, and that wealth and formidability interact to explain variance in male egalitarianism. However, this lack of support may have been due to differences in variable measurement between our study and previous studies.

Bodily Attractiveness and Egalitarianism are Negatively Related in Males

Ancestrally, relatively attractive individuals and relatively formidable males may have had reduced incentives to be egalitarian (i.e., to act in accordance with norms promoting social equality). If selection calibrated one's egalitarianism to one's attractiveness/formidability, then such people may exhibit reduced egalitarianism (“observed egalitarianism”) and be perceived by others as less egalitarian (“perceived egalitarianism”) in modern environments. To investigate, we created 3D body models of 125 participants to use both as a source of anthropometric measurements and as stimuli to obtain ratings of bodily attractiveness and perceived egalitarianism. We also measured observed egalitarianism (via an economic “dictator” game) and indices of political egalitarianism (preference for socialism over capitalism) and “equity sensitivity.” Results indicated higher egalitarianism levels in women than in men, and moderate-to-strong negative relationships between (a) attractiveness and observed egalitarianism among men, (b) attractiveness and perceived egalitarianism among both sexes, and (c) formidability and perceived egalitarianism among men. We did not find support for two previously-reported findings: that observed egalitarianism and formidability are negatively related in men, and that wealth and formidability interact to explain variance in male egalitarianism. However, this lack of support may have been due to differences in variable measurement between our study and previous studies.

Sex, drugs and moral goals: reproductive strategies and views about recreational drugs

Humans, unlike most other species, show intense interest in the activities of conspecifics, even when the activities in question pose no obvious fitness threat or opportunity. Here, we investigate one content domain in which people show substantial interest, the use of drugs for non-medical purposes. Drawing from two subject populations--one undergraduate and one Internet-based--we look at the relationships among (i) abstract political commitments; (ii) attitudes about sexuality; and (iii) views surrounding recreational drugs. Whereas some theories suggest that drug views are best understood as the result of abstract political ideology, we suggest that these views can be better understood in the context of reproductive strategy. We show that, as predicted by a strategic construal, drug attitudes are best predicted by sexual items rather than abstract political commitments and, further, that the relationship between factors such as political ideology and drugs, while positive, are reduced to zero or nearly zero when items assessing sexuality are controlled for. We conclude that considering morality from the standpoint of strategic interests is a potentially useful way to understand why humans care about third party behaviour.

Meniscal allograft transplantation: a 1- to 5-year follow-up of 22 patients

SUMMARY

Between October 1991 and December 1995, a total of 22 patients (23 knees) underwent meniscal transplantation with nonirradiated, cryopreserved allografts. Implantation was arthroscopically assisted using bone plugs to prevent meniscal extrusion and maintain weight-bearing functional position. Patients were evaluated with an average follow-up of 40 months (range, 13 to 69 months) using the International Knee Documentation Committee, Lysholm, and Tegner scoring systems. The most significant finding was pain reduction after implantation. Lateral and standing anteroposterior radiographs were obtained on all patients at follow-up with an average joint space loss of 0.882 mm (range, 0 to 3 mm). Magnetic resonance imaging was preformed on both knees in 12 of the 22 patients at an average of 24.4 months postoperatively. On average, the allograft meniscus was 63% (range, 31% to 100%) the size of the normal meniscus. Clinical results showed improvement of preoperative pain in all patients. Although patients continue to have good pain relief following their meniscal allograft transplantation, the average shrinkage in the size of the meniscus as shown on magnetic resonance imaging is a concern.

Early season anterior cruciate ligament tears. A treatment dilemma

An anterior cruciate ligament tear before or early in an athlete's season presents a treatment dilemma: surgically repair the ligament and end the season, or use rehabilitative exercises and bracing to quickly return the athlete to play. We conducted a prospective study of 43 athletes (44 acute tears) over 44 months to determine criteria for early return to play and if an early return is safe. All patients had an acute injury in a previously normal knee, a positive Lachman test, and KT-1000 arthrometry indicating ligament abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging of each injured knee showed an interior cruciate ligament tear but no meniscal tear. Thirty patients (31 tears) returned to play with rehabilitation and a brace at an average of 5.7 weeks after injury: Only 12 patients returned to their sports without recurrent buckling of their injured knees; 18 patients (19 knees) had recurrent buckling during play. Thirteen patients could not return to play. Patients were observed until they 1) had ligament reconstruction (29 patients, 29 tears), 2) gave up their sports because of instability but did not elect surgery (3 patients), or 3) returned to play in a brace and declined surgery (11 patients, 12 tears). All who elected reconstruction experienced recurrent knee buckling. We found 23 meniscal tears (17 knees) in the 29 patients undergoing reconstruction.

Effect of topically applied anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies on orthotopic corneal allografts in a rat model

PURPOSE

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have generated interest as therapeutic agents. Limited data are available on the treatment of corneal graft rejection. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of topically applied mAb on experimental corneal grafts.

METHODS

W 3/25, an IgG 1 mouse antirat mAb that recognizes a CD4+ cell subset, was used to treat Lewis recipient rats that received orthotopic corneal grafts of Wistar-Furth donors. Recipients were randomly assigned to receive topically applied drops of liposome-incorporated anti-CD4 mAb (LIP-anti-CD4 mAb), an equivalent amount of free anti-CD4 mAb, an isotype-matched control mAb encapsulated in liposomes (LIP-control mAb), or empty liposomes (emp-LIP) 5 times daily for 10 days. To investigate the immunologic effect of mAb treatment, flow cytometry of the targeted cells and cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Application of LIP-anti-CD4 mAb was effective in reducing the rejection rate (P < .05) and in prolonging the mean survival time of corneal grafts that underwent rejection (P < .05). In contrast, no significant effect on graft outcome was observed after the application of control agents. Flow cytometry analysis did not reveal systemic depletion of the targeted lymphocyte subset in any anti-CD4 mAb treated animals. Rejected grafts elicited a cellular cytotoxic immune response in a cell-mediated lymphocytotoxic assay independent of the treatment given.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that treatment with topically applied LIP-anti-CD4 mAb prolongs graft survival in orthotopic corneal grafts in a rat model. The beneficial effect of LIP-anti-CD4 mAb, probably due to enhanced intraocular delivery, was achieved by using relatively low doses of mAb.

Prolongation of corneal allograft survival with liposome-encapsulated cyclosporine in the rat eye

PURPOSE

To study the effects of different formulations of topical cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A [CsA]) on corneal allograft rejection in a rat model.

METHODS

Female Lewis rats received penetrating keratoplasties from female Wistar-Furth donors. A total of 78 allogeneic grafts were performed. An additional 15 syngeneic grafts (Lewis) were used as technical controls. Two CsA preparations with equivalent drug concentrations (2.1 mg/ml) were applied as drops: CsA encapsulated in large unilamellar liposomes (CsA-LIP) and CsA dissolved in olive oil (CsA-DR). Allogeneic grafts were randomly assigned to receive CsA-LIP or CsA-DR beginning on the day of surgery five times daily for 10 days. Animals without any treatment or receiving empty liposomes (EM-LIP) were used as treatment controls. Grafts were graded three times weekly and a rejection index was generated based on graft clarity, neovascularization, and vessel size.

RESULTS

All syngeneic grafts remained clear over the observation period of 60 days. Rejected allogeneic grafts without any treatment and those receiving EM-LIP or CsA-DR showed a mean survival time (+/- standard deviation) of 14 +/- 4, 14 +/- 5, and 14 +/- 4 days, respectively. There was no significant difference in mean survival time between the grafts without any treatment and those in CsA-DR or EM-LIP treatment groups. The mean survival time of rejected grafts in animals receiving CsA-LIP was prolonged to 20 +/- 4 days. There was a significant difference in the mean survival time between the CsA-LIP treatment group and groups receiving CsA-DR, EM-LIP, or no treatment (P < or = 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve of the CsA-LIP treatment group was significantly different from the other experimental groups. The graft survival rate in the CsA-LIP group was 77%, whereas the rate was 37% in the non-treated group, 45% in the CsA-DR group, and 36% in the EM-LIP group.

CONCLUSION

Encapsulation of CsA in liposomes might be a promising formulation for use in the prevention of corneal graft rejection.