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Ameliorating Effect (ameliorating + effect)
Selected AbstractsAmeliorating effect of saporin-conjugated anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody in a murine T-cell-mediated chronic colitisJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 7 2006Takanori Kanai Abstract Background:, Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that is associated with several changes in the immune system, including an increased number of infiltrating macrophages. These macrophages release a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,) which are critically involved in the onset and the development of CD. The present study was performed to explore the initial involvement of macrophages in the development of T-cell-mediated chronic colitis. Methods:, The effects were evaluated of saporin-conjugated anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody (mAb) on the development of chronic colitis in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice induced by adoptive transfer of CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells as an animal model of CD. Results:, Significantly increased CD11b-expressing macrophages as well as CD4+ T cells were found in inflamed colon from colitic mice. Administration of saporin-conjugated anti-CD11b mAb markedly ameliorated the clinical and histopathological disease. In vivo treatment with saporin-conjugated anti-CD11b mAb decreased CD4+ T-cell infiltration in the colon and suppressed inferferon-, (IFN-,) and TNF-, production by lamina propria CD4+ T cells. Conclusions:, Collectively, the present results suggest an initial role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of T-cell-mediated chronic colitis. Furthermore, the macrophage-specific targeting may be a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention in CD. [source] Effect of a Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification Program on the Bone Density of Male Heavy DrinkersALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2010Toshifumi Matsui Background:, Heavy alcohol drinking is implicated in osteoporosis. Although abstinence is rapidly followed by a restoration of osteoblastic activity, little is known about the contributions of alcohol-related factors or the effectiveness of a lifestyle modification program (LMP) on bone density. Methods:, We conducted a study of 138 male alcoholic patients to investigate whether drinking history and concurrent factors were associated with the bone density of the calcaneus. A 2.5-months LMP in an institutionalized setting was completed by 20 of them, and its effect on bone density, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1.25-(OH)2 vitamin D levels were assessed. Results:, The patients had a high prevalence of daytime drinking (93.5%), continuous drinking (84.1%), and current smoking (82.0%) with mean duration of alcohol abuse of 30.0 ± 12.8 years. The patients had lower bone density than a reference control group (Z-scores: ,0.45 ± 1.02). Multiple stepwise regression analysis identified age, poor activities of daily living (ADL), continuous drinking, absence of liver cirrhosis, depression, and dementia as determinants of low bone density. The bone density of the 20 participants in the LMP improved 2.3% (p = 0.0003) with a more ameliorating effect on bone density than a conventional abstinence therapy (p = 0.014 for interventional effect). The upper normal range of PTH levels at baseline were significantly decreased, and 1.25-(OH)2 vitamin D levels also had a trend toward decrease during the abstinence. Conclusions:, Alcoholic patients may have many complications such as poor ADL and dementia, which are independently associated with decreased bone density. The results of this study support the idea that comprehensive approach to lifestyle factors to minimize risk of osteoporosis is the best way to improve bone density. [source] SEDIMENT TRAPPING WITHIN FORESTRY STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONES: GEORGIA PIEDMONT, USA,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2004Jason M. Ward ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of streamside management zones (SMZs) was assessed for reducing sediment transport from concentrated overland flow draining two Georgia Piedmont clearcuts that had undergone mechanical and chemical site preparation and planting. Silt fences were used to trap sediment transport from zero-order ephemeral swales at the edge of and within SMZs. Four control swales and nine treatment swales were studied. A double mass curve approach was used to graphically compare sediment accumulation rates at the edge of SMZs to accumulation rates within the SMZs at a distance consistent with current recommendations for SMZ width in Georgia. SMZ efficiencies for trapping sediment transported by concentrated flow ranged from 71 to 99 percent. No statistical model was found to explain how SMZ efficiencies varied with SMZ and contributing area characteristics. Measured sediment accumulations at the SMZ boundary were compared to Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) predictions of up- slope erosion, and a delivery ratio of 0.25 was calculated. SMZs had a quantifiable and substantial ameliorating effect on sediment transport from concentrated overland flow on the clearcut study sites. [source] Erythropoietin attenuates white matter damage, proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine induction in developing rat brain after intra-uterine infectionNEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Ying Shen To investigate the possible ameliorating effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on white matter damage, pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine induction in developing rat brain after intra-uterine Escherichia coli infection. E. coli was inoculated into uterine cervix of the time-pregnant rats and the control was injected with normal saline. Following maternal E. coli inoculation, the pups received a single intraperitoneal injection of rhEPO at a dose of 5000 IU/kg body weight immediately after birth. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis for 2,, 3,-cyclic nucleotide 3,-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed to assess white matter damage in pup brains at post-natal day 1 (P1), P3 and P7. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR at the mRNA levels to evaluate the inflammatory response in pup brains at P1, P3 and P7. A single dose of rhEPO treatment (5000 IU/kg body weight) attenuated white matter damage in developing rat brain after intra-uterine E. coli infection. The protein levels of CNPase and NF in pup brains at P7 significantly increased after post-natal rhEPO treatment as compared with the intra-uterine E. coli -treated group. Also, post-natal rhEPO injection markedly attenuated the intra-uterine E. coli infection-induced increases in GFAP protein expression and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Post-natal EPO administration as a single dose may exert a neuroprotective effect on white matter damage by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine induction in developing rat brain after intra-uterine E. coli infection. [source] Exercise participation after diagnosis of breast cancer: trends and effects on mood and quality of lifePSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Bernardine M. Pinto Individuals treated for cancer often experience higher levels of emotional distress than the general population. Previous research has shown that exercise can have an ameliorating effect on these problems. This 12-month prospective longitudinal study investigated mood, quality of life, cancer-related symptoms, and exercise behavior of 69 women who had completed treatment for Stage 0,2 breast cancer. We studied the natural progression of exercise participation after cancer treatment. Effects on mood, quality of life, and cancer-related symptoms were assessed after controlling for demographic variables, disease variables, social support, and baseline values to test the hypothesis that women who exercised were more likely to report better mood, higher quality of life, and fewer cancer-related symptoms. Results indicated that women did not increase their exercise participation over time and that overall mean minutes of exercise participation were below recommended levels. Baseline demographic predictors of exercise participation included younger age, having a spouse or partner, increased time since diagnosis, higher social support, and higher depression. Exercise participation was associated with improved physical functioning, but not overall mood or cancer-related symptoms. We discuss implications of these findings towards the well-being of breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||