Modulating Intracellular Ice Growth with Cell-Permeating Small-Molecule Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors.

Ice formation remains central to our understanding of the effects of low temperatures on the biological response of cells and tissues. The formation of ice inside of cells and the net increase in crystal size due to recrystallization during thawing is associated with a loss of cell viability during cryopreservation. Because small-molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) can control the growth of extracellular ice, we sought to investigate the ability of two aryl-glycoside-based IRIs to permeate into cells and control intracellular ice recrystallization. An interrupted graded freezing technique was used to evaluate the IRI permeation into human red blood cells (RBCs) and mitigate cell damage during freezing and thawing. The effect of IRIs on the intracellular growth of ice crystals in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was visualized in real time under different thawing conditions using fluorescence cryomicroscopy. Adding an aryl glycoside to 15% glycerol significantly increased post-thaw RBC integrity by up to 55% during slow cooling compared with the 15%-glycerol-only control group. The characteristics of the cryobiological behavior of the RBCs subjected to the interrupted graded freezing suggest that the aryl-glycoside-based IRI is internalized into the RBCs. HUVECs treated with the IRIs were shown to retain a large number of small ice crystals during warming to high subzero temperatures and demonstrated a significant inhibition of intracellular ice recrystallization. Under slow thawing conditions, the aryl glycoside IRI p-bromophenyl-ß-d-glucoside was shown to be most effective at inhibiting intracellular ice recrystallization. We demonstrate that IRIs are capable of internalizing into cells, altering the cryobiological response of cells to slow and rapid freezing and controlling intracellular ice recrystallization during freezing. We conclude that IRIs have tremendous potential as cryoprotectants for the preservation of cells and tissues at high subzero temperatures.

Understanding concerns about interventions to promote forgiveness: A review of the literature.

A new area in psychotherapy practice and research has arisen addressing therapeutic interventions to explicitly promote forgiveness. There is wide variation in the response to this new area including enthusiastic acceptance, wary openness, and vigorous opposition. Unfortunately, these reactions are not often based on a thorough understanding of the empirical literature and result in concerns about using forgiveness interventions in therapy that may or may not be warranted. The authors identify these potential concerns, framing them as concerns about the impact on clients, concerns related to therapist skill or knowledge, and concerns about the effect on the therapy process. The authors address these concerns with a review of the relevant research on forgiveness in therapy. Based on this review, the authors conclude that some skepticism of the new "forgiveness interventions" is warranted, although serious consideration needs to be given to these interventions at appropriate times. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison of brief group interventions to promote forgiveness: a pilot outcome study.

Helping clients come to terms with past hurts such as sexual, physical, or verbal abuse is often an important goal of therapy. Research suggests that specific treatments to help people forgive their offenders can be effective. However, these treatments have not been systematically compared with other treatments that are typically offered in real-world settings. The aim of this study was to compare a group-based explicit forgiveness intervention with process-oriented group therapy. Analyses indicated that both group formats were more effective than no treatment, resulting in less revenge, less negative reactions toward the offender, and fewer psychological symptoms. The two treatments did not differ from each other on any of the outcome variables.