The genetics of economic risk preferences

We examine the influence of genetics on economic risk preferences by administering a measure of these preferences to monozygotic (MZ) (i.e., identical) and dizygotic (DZ) (i.e., non‐identical) twin pairs. Our analysis supports a dominant genetic effect and virtually no additive genetic effect on economic risk preferences, with the heritability of preferences estimated at 0.63. These findings suggest that over half of the variation in such preferences can be explained by genetic factors, with the remainder of the variance explained by environmental influences not shared among sibling twins. We discuss the implications of our findings for the study of individual differences in economic risk preferences. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

代谢综合征与乳腺癌

研究显示,代谢综合征可增加女性乳腺癌的患病风险,在绝经后妇女中表现更明显。这种作用可能通过胰岛素抵抗影响雌激素和性激素结合球蛋白水平、高胰岛素血症的直接或间接作用以及脂肪因子水平异常等机制实现。因此,对于我国乳腺癌发病率可能随代谢综合征人群不断扩大而上升的趋势应予以足够重视。     

肥胖男性血浆脂联素水平及影响因素

检测正常男性血浆脂联素水平,探讨其与各检测指标之间的相关性。选取正常男性96例,按体重指数（BMI）将上述两组分为2个亚组：肥胖（BMI≥25kg／m^2）组40例及体重正常（BMI〈25kg／m^2）组56例,测定空腹血浆脂联素浓度。肥胖组的血浆脂联素水平[（7．48±3．4）μg／m1]明显低于体重正常组[（10．57±4．73）μg／m1],差异有显著的统计学意义（P〈0．01）。相关分析显示血浆脂联素与体重指数（BMI）、腰围（WC）、血压（BP）、总胆固醇（TC）、血清胰岛素（FINs）、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）之间存在负相关,与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）正相关。BMI、WC、HOMA-IR为影响血浆脂联素水平的独立因素。男性肥胖者血浆脂联素水平较体重正常者明显降低,血浆脂联素水平可能与肥胖及其相关疾病相关。     

亚临床甲状腺功能减退与冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病

对冠心病高危因素积极地预防及治疗,可降低冠心病的患病率和病死率。已经得到公认的临床甲状腺功能减退通过引起代谢及血流动力学紊乱而参与了冠状动脉粥样硬化的发生与发展。目前,国内外许多临床研究显示亚临床甲状腺功能减退通过多种途径参与冠心病的发生和发展,是冠心病的重要危险因素之一。     

The Role of Lay Health Advisors in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Review

Interventions are needed to reduce the negative impact of cardiovascular disease. The combination of health risks for disease, disability, and mortality, particularly among underserved populations, might be best addressed with programs designed to enhance awareness and development of resources within a context of community support. The objectives of this review were to: (1) provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the roles, evaluation, and effectiveness of LHA in community-based programs with an emphasis on cardiovascular risk reduction; and (2) provide recommendations for future research involving LHA in such programs. Computer and manual searches were conducted of articles in the English-language literature from 1980 to 2007. Twenty articles were evaluated, which emphasized the role of the LHA in cardiovascular risk reduction. A review of research literature provides a starting point for determining salient approaches for intervention and evaluation, issues related to program implementation and sustainability, and strengths and limitations of existing approaches.     

Area-Based Socioeconomic Characteristics of Industries at High Risk for Violence in the Workplace

This study examined socioeconomic factors associated with the presence of workplaces belonging to industries reported to be at high risk for worker homicide. The proportion of 2004 North Carolina workplaces in high-risk industries was computed following spatial linkage of individual workplaces to 2000 United States Census Block Groups (n = 3,925). Thirty census-derived socioeconomic variables (selected a priori as potentially predictive of violence) were summarized using exploratory factor analysis into poverty/deprivation, human/economic capital, and transience/instability. Multinomial logistic regression models indicate associations between higher proportion of workplaces belonging to high-risk industries and Block Groups with more poverty/deprivation or transience/instability and less human/economic capital. The relationship between human/economic capital and Block Groups proportion of high-risk industry workplaces was modified by levels of transience/instability. Community characteristics therefore contribute to the potential for workplace violence, and future research should continue to understand the relationship between social context and workplace violence risk.     

组织中管理者信任的前因机制——基于契约与LMX的实证分析

管理者信任是组织运作效率的重要影响因素。为了系统分析契约与领导成员交换(LMX)在组织内部对管理者信任的权变影响模式,本研究采用问卷调查的方法,对契约与LMX如何影响管理者信任的形成进行了研究。154名被试参加了调查,结果表明,契约与LMX的交互作用项对管理者信任的作用显著。进一步分析交互作用方向,结果表明:领导成员交换(LMX)在管理者信任形成中起到主导作用;而在双方LMX一般时,完备的契约可显著降低信任风险,促进管理者信任的形成。据此,我们建议管理者采用相应的权变策略建设组织内管理者信任。     

Predictors of Cancer Worry in Unaffected Women from High Risk Breast Cancer Families: Risk Perception is not the Primary Issue

Some women at increased familial risk of breast cancer experience elevated levels of cancer-specific worry, which can possibly act as a barrier to screening, and may be a significant factor in decisions regarding risk-reducing surgery. The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine predictors of cancer-specific worry in high risk women and to test a model which proposes that perceived breast cancer risk mediates the impact of other factors on worry. 1,437 unaffected women from high risk breast cancer families completed questionnaires and interviews. Path analysis was used to test the model of potential predictors of cancer worry, including familial, personal and psychological variables, mediated via perceived cancer risk. Levels of cancer-specific worry were generally low despite an average perceived risk of 50.3%. The goodness-of-fit of the proposed model was poor, explaining only 9% of the variance for perceived risk and 10% of the variance for cancer specific worry. An alternative model of a direct relationship between all of the predictor variables and cancer worry, explained 24% of the variation in cancer worry. General anxiety, perceived risk, the stressful impact of recent cancer related events, a relative risk greater than 10, being closer in age to the youngest breast cancer diagnosis in family, and knowledge of personal mutation status, all independently contributed to cancer worry. Addressing general affective responses, experiences of recent cancer related events, in addition to education about personal risk, should be considered in counselling women with elevated cancer worry. Risk perception appears to act independently of other factors in its formulation and impact on cancer worry. Further research on the way in which women come to perceive their risk is indicated. The kConFab Psychosocial Group are (in alphabetical order of institution): Brain and Mind Institute, University of Sydney, Australia (I Hickie) Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia (K-A Phillips) Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia (B Bennett, B Meiser, K Tucker) Department of Oncology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia (S-A MaLachlan) Department of Psychological Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia (C Tennant); Medical Psychology Research Unit, University of Sydney, Australia (P Butow, M Price).     

决策中的框架效应再探

框架效应是指对相同决策任务不同方式的描述会影响决策者对备择选项的认知．大量研究已证实了框架效应的存在。本研究采用经典的“海难”问题,进一步探讨了决策任务中的框架效应。结果发现,在生命问题和财产问题中均没有发现框架效应的存在。在面对生命问题时,总体上人们倾向于冒险;在面对财产问题时,总体上倾向于保守。另外在面对生命问题时,女生比男生更倾向于冒险。     

品牌信任研究脉络与展望

品牌信任就是在风险情境下,消费者基于对品牌品质、行为意向及其履行承诺的能力的正面预期而产生的认可该品牌的意愿。品牌信任结构问题存在“一维”、“二维’’和“三维”之争。品牌信任与多种因素存在着互动关系。有关品牌信任的前因后果有待进行整合研究,从而探讨品牌信任对品牌绩效的作用机制。