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Possible Beneficial Effects (possible + beneficial_effects)
Selected AbstractsPrenatal Stretching Exercise and Autonomic Responses: Preliminary Data and a Model for Reducing PreeclampsiaJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 2 2010SeonAe Yeo RNC Abstract Purpose: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, and it increases maternal risk for future cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationships among stretching exercise, autonomic cardiac response, and the development of preeclampsia. Design: Secondary data analysis. Methods: Heart rate and pulse pressure were longitudinally examined in this secondary data analysis among women who engaged in stretching exercise daily from 18 weeks of gestation to the end of pregnancy compared with women who did walking exercise daily during the same time period. A total of 124 women were randomized to either stretching (n=60) or walking (n=64) in the parent study. Findings: Heart rates in the stretching group were consistently lower than those in the walking group. Conclusions: Based on the results of this secondary data analyses, a physiologic framework for possible beneficial effects of stretching exercise by enhancing autonomic responses on reducing risks for preeclampsia is proposed and discussed. Clinical Relevance: If the protective effect is established, stretching exercise can be translated into nursing intervention for prenatal care. [source] Review article: possible beneficial effects of coffee on liver disease and functionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2007I. S. H. CADDEN Summary Background Coffee is consumed by 50 percent of Americans every day. After oil, coffee is the second most valuable commodity in the world. In recent years a number of studies have suggested potential health risks associated with coffee consumption; however, the results are controversial. Whilst coffee has been reported to increase cardiovascular risk factors, other investigators have demonstrated its protective effects on diseases ranging from type 2 diabetes to Parkinson's disease. A number of investigators have focused their attention on the relationship between the consumption of coffee and liver disease. Aim, To examine the published literature to date in an attempt to establish the presence of an hepatoprotective effect of coffee. Methods, Using PubMed, we identified published studies and review articles relating to the effect of coffee consumption on diseases of the liver. Conclusion, A number of studies have reported the beneficial effects of coffee on abnormal liver biochemistry, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. At the present time the mechanism of this effect remains unclear as does the ,,dose'' required to achieve these benefits. [source] Effects of probiotic therapy on portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis: a pilot studyLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2009Puneeta Tandon Abstract Background: Recent literature has supported the role of bacterial translocation as a mediator of splanchnic vasodilatation and portal hypertension. The objective of this study was to determine whether the probiotic VSL#3 would reduce portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Eight patients with compensated or very early decompensated cirrhosis and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) >10 mmHg, received 2 months of VSL#3 (3600 billion bacteria daily). The HVPG, intestinal permeability, endotoxin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-,, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, renin and aldosterone were measured at baseline and study end. Results: There was no change in the HVPG or intestinal permeability from baseline to study end but there was a trend to reduction in plasma endotoxin (P=0.09), a mild but significant increase in serum TNF-, (P=0.02) and a significant reduction in plasma aldosterone (P=0.03). Conclusions: Within the limitations of small sample size, there does not appear to be a benefit of probiotic therapy for portal pressure reduction in patients with compensated or early decompensated cirrhosis. The reductions in endotoxin and aldosterone suggest possible beneficial effects of probiotics for this patient population. The clinical significance of the small but unexpected increase in TNF-, is unclear. Future studies are planned in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. [source] Randomized placebo-controlled trial assessing the effect of bifidobacteria-fermented milk on active ulcerative colitisALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 10 2004K. Kato Summary Background :,Probiotics are efficacious for treating and maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis. Aim :,To conduct a randomized placebo-controlled trial of bifidobacteria-fermented milk supplementation as a dietary adjunct in treating active ulcerative colitis. Methods :,Twenty patients with mild to moderate, active, ulcerative colitis randomly received 100 mL/day of bifidobacteria-fermented milk or placebo for 12 weeks with conventional treatment. Results :,Clinical and endoscopic activity indices and histological scores were similar in the two groups before treatment. Although improvements were significant in both groups, the clinical activity index was significantly lower in the bifidobacteria-fermented milk than in the placebo group after treatment. The post-treatment endoscopic activity index and histological score were significantly reduced in the bifidobacteria-fermented milk, but not the placebo group. Increases in faecal butyrate, propionate and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were significant in the bifidobacteria-fermented milk, but not the placebo group. No adverse effects were observed in either group. Conclusion :,Supplementation with this bifidobacteria-fermented milk product is safe and more effective than conventional treatment alone, suggesting possible beneficial effects in managing active ulcerative colitis. This is a pilot study and further larger studies are required to confirm the result these preliminary results. [source] Rapid and sustained improvement in bone and cartilage turnover markers with the anti,interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab plus methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate: Results from a substudy of the multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tocilizumab in inadequate responders to methotrexate alone,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 1 2010Patrick Garnero Objective To investigate the effects of tocilizumab (TCZ) added to a stable dosage of methotrexate (MTX) on biochemical markers of bone and cartilage metabolism in patients in the multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled OPTION (Tocilizumab Pivotal Trial in Methotrexate Inadequate Responders) study who have moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to MTX. Methods Included in this study were 416 of the 623 patients with active RA enrolled in the OPTION study. Patients were randomized to receive TCZ (4 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg) or placebo intravenously every 4 weeks, with MTX continued at the stable prestudy doses (10,25 mg for 20 weeks, with a final followup at week 24). Serum biochemical markers of bone formation (osteocalcin, N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen [PINP]), bone resorption (C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX-I] and C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen generated by matrix metalloproteinases [ICTP]), cartilage metabolism (N-terminal propeptide of type IIA collagen [PIIANP]), collagen helical peptide [HELIX-II]), and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) were measured at baseline and at weeks 4, 16, and 24. Results TCZ induced marked dose-dependent reductions in PIIANP, HELIX-II, and MMP-3 levels at week 4 that were maintained until week 24, an effect associated with increased levels of bone formation markers that were significant as compared with placebo only for PINP and only at 4 weeks (P < 0.01 for both TCZ doses). TCZ induced significant decreases in the bone degradation markers CTX-I and ICTP, providing initial evidence of a beneficial effect on bone turnover. TCZ-treated patients who met the American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria (achieved an ACR50 response) or achieved clinical remission (as determined by a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints <2.6) at week 24 had greater reductions in ICTP, HELIX-II, and MMP-3 levels as compared with ACR50 nonresponders. Conclusion TCZ combined with MTX reduces systemic bone resorption, cartilage turnover, and proteolytic enzyme MMP-3 levels, which provides evidence of a limitation of joint damage and possible beneficial effects on skeletal structure in patients with established moderate-to-severe RA. [source] Role of Marginal Vitamin C Deficiency in Atherogenesis: In Vivo Models and Clinical StudiesBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Henriette Frikke-Schmidt Naturally, vitamin C has been the subject of many investigations over the past decades in relation to its possible beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease primarily based on its powerful yet general antioxidant properties. However, growing epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence now suggests a more specific role of ascorbate in vasomotion and in the prevention of atherosclerosis. For example, in contrast to most other biological antioxidants, administration of vitamin C can apparently induce vasodilation. Millions of people worldwide can be diagnosed with vitamin C deficiency according to accepted definitions. In this perspective, the present review examines the evidence for a specific link between vitamin C deficiency and increased risk of atherosclerosis as well as the possible mechanisms by which vitamin C may exert its protective function. [source] Effects of moxaverine on ocular blood flow in patients with age-related macular degeneration, patients with primary open angle glaucoma and in healthy controlsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009B PEMP Purpose Several common eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) are associated with ocular perfusion abnormalities. Moxaverine has been shown to increase ocular blood flow in young, healthy volunteers after intravenous administration. The present study investigated whether moxaverine alters ocular blood flow in elderly patients with AMD or POAG and in healthy control subjects. Methods 20 patients with AMD, 20 patients with POAG and 20 age-matched healthy subjects were included in this trial. 150 mg moxaverine (Ursapharm, Saarbrücken, Germany) was administered intravenously over 30 minutes. Systemic haemodynamics, retinal vessel diameters, choroidal, optic nerve head and retrobulbar blood flow were measured before and up to 90 minutes after drug administration. Results Administration of moxaverine increased choroidal blood flow by 8.7 ± 21.8% (p=0.012) and optic nerve head blood flow by 12.9 ± 33.3% (p=0.021). Additionally, an increase in the mean flow velocities of posterior ciliary arteries (24.8 ± 34.7%, p<0.001) and in the ophthalmic artery (23.3 ± 33.5%, p<0.001) was found after administration of moxaverine. However, no differences were found between the 3 study groups. No significant change of retinal vessel diameters was observed. Conclusion The present study indicates an increase of ocular blood flow after systemic administration of a single dose of moxaverine in patients with POAG, patients with AMD and in age-matched healthy controls. Further studies are needed to investigate possible beneficial effects after long-term treatment in patients with ocular diseases associated with hypoperfusion. [source] | ||||||||||