This edited volume is based on the conference proceedings pre­sented and discussed at the international conference Confronting the Past, held on 23 April 2009 at the European House in Zagreb. The study was created within the scope of the grant titled Supporting Scientific Training of Talented Youth at the University of Pecs (code: SROP-4.2.2/B-10/1-2010-0029).

Background Magnetic field therapy is a popular approach to pain therapy, but scientific evidence on treatment effects or even effects on sensory and pain perception in healthy controls is scarce. Methods In the present randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the influence of static magnetic field exposure on sensory (touch) and pain (pinprick, pressure and heat) perception. Eighteen healthy volunteers (age: 23 +/- 2 years, nine women) underwent three 10-min static magnetic field exposures using field strengths of 0 T (placebo), 1.5 T and 3 T within clinical MR scanners in randomized order on three separate days. Participants were blinded to magnetic field strength. Experimental sensory and pain testing was performed immediately before and after each magnetic field exposure. Results There was no significant effect of field strength on the assessed experimental sensory and pain testing parameters (mechanical detection threshold, pinprick threshold, pressure pain threshold, heat pain threshold and suprathreshold heat pain rating). Conclusion We found no evidence that a 10-min 1.5 T or 3 T static magnetic field exposure affects experimental sensory or pain perception in young healthy volunteers. Significance We used clinical MR scanners to investigate the effect of magnetic fields on pain perception. Using a rigorous, straightforward, placebo-controlled design, no effect of static magnetic fields on human experimental pain perception was detected. This provides a base for a more systematic investigation of magnetic field effects on pain.

The effect static magnetic field (SMF)-exposure may exert on edema development has been investigated. A 6 h long whole-body (WBSMF) or local (LSMF), continuous, inhomogeneous SMF-exposure was applied on anesthetized mice in an in vivo model of mustard oil (MO)-induced ear edema. LSMF was applied below the treated ear, below the lumbar spine, or below the mandible. Ear thickness (v) was checked 8 times during the exposure period (at 0, 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h). The effect size of the applied treatment (η) on ear thickness was calculated by the formula η = 100% × (1-v(j)/v(i)), where group i is the control group and j is the treated group. Results showed that MO treatment in itself induced a significant ear edema with an effect of 9% (p<0.001). WBSMF or LSMF on the spine in combination with MO treatment increased ear thickness even further resulting in an effect of η>11% in both cases compared to SMF-exposure alone (p<0.001). In these cases SMF-exposure alone without MO treatment reduced ear thickness significantly (p<0.05), but within estimated experimental error. In cases of LSMF-exposure on the head, a significant SMF-exposure induced ear thickness reduction was found (η = 5%, p<0.05). LSMF-exposure on the spine affected ear thickness with and without MO treatment almost identically, which provides evidence that the place of local SMF action may be in the lower spinal region.

Background and objectivesMalignant and trophoblastic cells share common features in terms of migration and invasion, while they represent striking differences also (1).Our results on immune mechanisms in pregnancy failure (2) and use of immunotherapeutics (3) fostered the present new approach: Pregnancy derived compounds for potential growth controlling effect in metastatic melanomas were studied.

This pilot study was devoted to the effect of static magnetic field (SMF)-exposure on erosive gastritis. The randomized, self- and placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot study included 16 patients of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University diagnosed with erosive gastritis. The instrumental analysis followed a qualitative (pre-intervention) assessment of the symptoms by the patient: lower heartburn (in the ventricle), upper heartburn (in the oesophagus), epigastric pain, regurgitation, bloating and dry cough. Medical diagnosis included a double-line upper panendoscopy followed by 30 min local inhomogeneous SMF-exposure intervention at the lower sternal region over the stomach with peak-to-peak magnetic induction of 3 mT and 30 mT m −1 gradient at the target site. A qualitative (post-intervention) assessment of the same symptoms closed the examination. Sham- or SMF-exposure was used in a double-blind manner. The authors succeeded in justifying the clinically and statistically significant beneficial effect of the SMF- over sham-exposure on the symptoms of erosive gastritis, the average effect of inhibition was 56% by p = 0.001, n = 42 + 96. This pilot study was aimed to encourage gastroenterologists to test local, inhomogeneous SMF-exposure on erosive gastritis patients, so this intervention may become an evidence-based alternative or complementary method in the clinical use especially in cases when conventional therapy options are contraindicated.

Purpose : To study the effect of single, 30-min long, whole-body, homogeneous static magnetic field (SMF)-exposure of magnetic induction 147 +/- 3 mT on the response latency of the snail Helix pomatia.Materials and methods : The response was investigated using the hot plate test.Results : The effect caused by exposure to SMF was compared to sham-exposure and resulted in significant differences (up to 47.1%, p < 0.001). The response latency depended on the day-night cycle; response latency was higher by 51.2% (p < 0.001) during the night. This trend also held for SMF-exposure (28.6%, p < 0.001). Serotonin alone increased response latency (55.7%, p < 0.001), whereas serotonin antagonist tryptamine decreased it (-97.8%, p < 0.001). Using naloxone, response latency decreased (-52.5%, p < 0.001); however both SMF-exposure and serotonin in combination with naloxone rose it back to above the control level (116.9%, p < 0.001 or 150.2%, p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions : This study provides evidence that SMF-exposure mediates peripheral thermal nociceptive threshold by affecting the serotonerg as well as the opioiderg system.

Abstract Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model for human multiple sclerosis (MS) in rodents. Static magnetic field (SMF)-exposure was shown to be beneficial in specific cases of inflammatory background, where it suppresses symptoms. The null-hypothesis was that animals with induced EAE exposed to SMF would show different seriousness of symptoms, than those in the sham-exposed control group. Three replicated series of repetitive, 30 min/day whole-body exposure to SMF with 477 mT peak-to-peak magnetic induction and 48 T/m lateral induction gradient was tested on female CSJLF1 mice with a mild, mouse spinal cord homogenate emulsion-induced EAE. Conventional scores of the animal response to EAE were compared between sham- and SMF-exposed groups of animals. Following pilot test we used 18 animals per group. Primary outcome measure was the daily group average of standard EAE scores. Results show that SMF-exposure has a strong, reproducible, and significantly beneficial effect up to 51.82% (p<0.001) over sham-exposure on the symptoms of EAE in the course of the 25 days of the experiment. This study aimed to build experimental research foundation for a later therapy option by applying SMF-exposure in the clinical management of MS.

Previous observations suggest that static magnetic field (SMF)-exposure acts on living organisms partly through reactive oxygen species (ROS) reactions. In this study, we aimed to define the impact of SMF-exposure on ragweed pollen extract (RWPE)-induced allergic inflammation closely associated with oxidative stress. Inhomogeneous SMF was generated with an apparatus validated previously providing a peak-to-peak magnetic induction of the dominant SMF component 389 mT by 39 T m −1 lateral gradient in the in vivo and in vitro experiments, and 192 mT by 19 T m −1 in the human study at the 3 mm target distance. Effects of SMF-exposure were studied in a murine model of allergic inflammation and also in human provoked skin allergy. We found that even a single 30-min exposure of mice to SMF immediately following intranasal RWPE challenge significantly lowered the increase in the total antioxidant capacity of the airways and decreased allergic inflammation. Repeated (on 3 consecutive days) or prolonged (60 min) exposure to SMF after RWPE challenge decreased the severity of allergic responses more efficiently than a single 30-min treatment. SMF-exposure did not alter ROS production by RWPE under cell-free conditions, while diminished RWPE-induced increase in the ROS levels in A549 epithelial cells. Results of the human skin prick tests indicated that SMF-exposure had no significant direct effect on provoked mast cell degranulation. The observed beneficial effects of SMF are likely owing to the mobilization of cellular ROS-eliminating mechanisms rather than direct modulation of ROS production by pollen NAD(P)H oxidases.

A nemzeti azonosulás nehezen kezelhető, mérhető változó. A kezdeti, egydimenziós azonosuláskutatások ellentmondásos eredményekhez vezettek. Úgy tűnik, hogy a nemzeti azonosulás egydimenziós megközelítése sem konceptuálisan, sem empirikusan nem állja meg a helyét (összefoglalóanAshmore,DeauxésMcLaughlin-Volpe, 2004). Kutatásunk első szakaszában egy, a magyar nemzeti azonosulást vizsgáló kérdőívet alakítottunk ki. Az adatainkra végzett faktoranalízis eredményeként olyan kétfaktoros azonosulási modellt kaptunk, amely leginkábbRoccas,KlarésLiviatan(2006) kétdimenziós azonosulási modelljének feleltethető meg. Ez a modell a társas identitás és a szelfkategorizációs elméletek (Tajfel, 1978;Turner,Hogg,Oakes,ReicherésWetherell, 1987) mellett a nacionalizmus és a patriotizmus hagyományos felosztására épül (Adorno,Frenkelbrunswik,LevinsonésSanford, 1950;KostermanésFeshbach, 1989;Staub, 1997). A kérdőív kialakítását és bemérését követően érvényességi vizsgálatokat végeztünk, amelyek megmutatták, hogy az azonosulás két különböző módja — a kötődés és a glorifikáció — eltérő módon kapcsolódik az olyan csoportalapú jelenségekhez, mint például a csoportalapú érzelmek, a csoportot felmentő stratégiák használata, vagy a külső csoport kompenzálására való hajlandóság a saját csoport agresszív fellépését követően.

A nemzeti azonosulas nehezen kezelhető, merhető valtozo. A kezdeti, egydimenzios azonosulaskutatasok ellentmondasos eredmenyekhez vezettek. Ugy tűnik, hogy a nemzeti azonosulas egydimenzios megkozelitese sem konceptualisan, sem empirikusan nem allja meg a helyet (osszefoglaloan Ashmore , Deaux es McLaughlin-Volpe , 2004). Kutatasunk első szakaszaban egy, a magyar nemzeti azonosulast vizsgalo kerdőivet alakitottunk ki. Az adatainkra vegzett faktoranalizis eredmenyekent olyan ketfaktoros azonosulasi modellt kaptunk, amely leginkabb Roccas , Klar es Liviatan (2006) ketdimenzios azonosulasi modelljenek feleltethető meg. Ez a modell a tarsas identitas es a szelfkategorizacios elmeletek ( Tajfel , 1978; Turner , Hogg , Oakes , Reicher es Wetherell , 1987) mellett a nacionalizmus es a patriotizmus hagyomanyos felosztasara epul ( Adorno , Frenkelbrunswik , Levinson es Sanford , 1950; Kosterman es Feshbach , 1989; Staub , 1997). A kerdőiv kialakitasat es bemereset kovetően ervenyessegi vizsgalatokat vegeztunk, amelyek megmutattak, hogy az azonosulas ket kulonboző modja — a kotődes es a glorifikacio — elterő modon kapcsolodik az olyan csoportalapu jelensegekhez, mint peldaul a csoportalapu erzelmek, a csoportot felmentő strategiak hasznalata, vagy a kulső csoport kompenzalasara valo hajlandosag a sajat csoport agressziv fellepeset kovetően. | Identification with one’s national in-group is difficult to measure. Unitary scales of in-group identification have led to contradictory results. It seems that unitary scales are inadequate both conceptually and empirically (for a review, see Ashmore , Deaux , & McLaughlin-Volpe , 2004). In our studies, first, we have developed a Hungarian national identification questionnaire. We used confirmatory factor analysis to validate Roccas , Klar , & Liviatan ’s (2006) bi-dimensional model of in-group identification. This model separates two modes of identification: attachment and glorification. Theoretically this model is based on social identity theory, self-categorization theory ( Tajfel , 1978; 1982; Tajfel , & Turner , 1979; Turner , Hogg , Oakes , Reicher , & Wetherell , 1987), and the traditional differentiation between patriotism and nationalism ( Adorno , Frenkelbrunswik , Levinson , & Sanford , 1950; Kosterman , & Feshbach , 1989; Staub , 1997). Studies 2–3 demonstrated the predictive validity of the bi-dimensional model. Attachment and glorification has a different relationship to group-based phenomena such as group-based emotions, exonerating cognitions, compensation of out-groups after in-group aggression.

Social psychologists argue that people’s past weighs on their present. Consistent with this view, Historical Tales and National Identity outlines a theory and a methodology which provide tools for better understanding the relation between the present psychological condition of a society and representations of its past. Author Janos Laszlo argues that various kinds of historical texts including historical textbooks, texts derived from public memory (e.g. media or oral history), novels, and folk narratives play a central part in constructing national identity. Consequently, with a proper methodology, it is possible to expose the characteristic features and contours of national identities. In this book Laszlo enhances our understanding of narrative psychology and further elaborates his narrative theory of history and identity. He offers a conceptual model that draws on diverse areas of psychology - social, political, cognitive and psychodynamics - and integrates them into a coherent whole. In addition to this conceptual contribution, he also provides a major methodological innovation: a content analytic framework and software package that can be used to analyse various kinds of historical texts and shed new light on national identity. In the second part of the book, the potential of this approach is empirically illustrated, using Hungarian national identity as the focus. The author also extends his scope to consider the potential generalizations of the approach employed. Historical Tales and National Identity will be of great interest to a broad range of student and academic readers across the social sciences and humanities: in psychology, history, cultural studies, literature, anthropology, political science, media studies, sociology and memory studies.

To validate the potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic role of sita- and vildagliptin, five different experimental models were used in mice: i) mustard oil-induced ear edema, ii) neutrophil accumulation, iii) mechanical and iv) thermal touch sensitivity in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis and v) capsaicin-induced plasma extravasation in the urinary bladder. For the complete examination period in i) the dose of 10 mg sitagliptin as well as 1–10 mg vildagliptin was found to significantly decrease ear edema as compared to positive control (p < 0.05, n = 8/group). All doses of sitagliptin provided an anti-inflammatory effect p < 0.005 (n = 10/group) in test ii) and an analgesic effect in iii) except 3 mg. Vildagliptin was similarly effective in test ii) (p < 0.005, n = 10/group) as sitagliptin, but it failed to affect mechanical touch sensitivity. Unlike mechanical touch sensitivity, both gliptins could beneficially act on the thermal threshold (p < 0.05, n = 10/group). And only in tests v) could both gliptins reverse inflammation. Further studies are needed to support the suggestion that the utilization of these beneficial effects of gliptins may be considered in the treatment of Type 2 diabetic patients.

This research was aimed at examining just-world beliefs, system justification, authoritarianism, and cognitive style in a nationally representative sample (N = 1000) in Hungary, and at relating these phenomena to various demographic and political variables to find out whether the findings in Hungary would differ from its Western counterparts. According to system justification theory, there is a psychological motive to defend and justify the status quo. This theory has been tested several times in North American and Western European samples. The core finding of our study was that Hungarian people, unlike people in Western democracies, did not justify the existing establishment. There was strong pessimism with regard to the idea that the system serves the interests of the people. Members of disadvantaged groups (people with low economic income and/or far right political preference) strongly rejected the system. System justification beliefs were moderately related to just world beliefs, and there was a significant relationship between some aspects of need for closure (need for order, discomfort with ambiguity, and closed-mindedness) and authoritarian beliefs. Need for cognition was only related to one aspect of need for closure: closed-mindedness. The voters of right-wing parties did not display higher levels of authoritarianism than the voters of the left social-democrat party. The role of demographic and political variables, limitations, and possible developments of this research are discussed.