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Precise Effects (precise + effects)
Selected AbstractsThe Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders (NAME) study: design and methods for a study of micronutrients and cognitive function in a homebound elderly populationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 6 2006Tammy M. Scott Abstract Background Micronutrient status can affect cognitive function in the elderly; however, there is much to learn about the precise effects. Understanding mediating factors by which micronutrient status affects cognitive function would contribute to elders' quality of life and their ability to remain in the home. Objectives The Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders (NAME) Study is designed to advance the current level of knowledge by investigating potential mediating factors by which micronutrient status contributes to cognitive impairment and central nervous system abnormalities in the elderly. NAME targets homebound elders because they are understudied and particularly at risk for poor nutritional status. Methods Subjects are community-based elders aged 60 and older, recruited through area Aging Services Access Points. The NAME core data include demographics; neuropsychological testing and activities of daily living measures; food frequency, health and behavioral questionnaires; anthropometrics; gene status; plasma micronutrients, homocysteine, and other blood determinants. A neurological examination, psychiatric examination, and brain MRI and volumetric measurements are obtained from a sub-sample. Results Preliminary data from first 300 subjects are reported. These data show that the NAME protocol is feasible and that the enrolled subjects are racially diverse, at-risk, and had similar basic demographics to the population from which they were drawn. Conclusion The goal of the NAME study is to evaluate novel relationships between nutritional factors and cognitive impairment. These data may provide important information on potential new therapeutic strategies and supplementation standards for the elderly to maintain cognitive function and potentially reduce the public health costs of dementia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts: effect on inducible NOS, COX-1, COX-2 and their products in J774A.1 murine macrophagesJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2005E. Vigo Extracts of the plant species Pinus sylvestris L. and Plantago lanceolata L. have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of certain respiratory diseases, but little is known about their precise effects and mechanisms of action. In this study, we investigated the effect of these plant extracts on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2, NO synthase (NOS) type II, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 mRNA expression in the murine macrophage cell line J774A.1. We found that Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts inhibited NO production in a concentration-dependent manner in this cell line, without obvious cytotoxic effects as tested by MTT assay. The Plantago lanceolata extract at all doses used, and the Pinus sylvestris extract at high doses, showed significant scavenging of NO radicals released by the NO donor PAPA-NONOate. Our data also show that pre-treatment with these extracts significantly inhibits inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA production in this cell line, without affecting COX-1 mRNA expression. COX-2 mRNA levels and PGE2 levels induced by lipopolysaccharide/interferon-, were not modified upon pre-treatment with the extracts. Thus, our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts may reflect decreased NO production, possibly due to inhibitory effects on iNOS gene expression or to NO-scavenging activity. [source] Effects of stereotactic neurosurgery on postural instability and gait in Parkinson's diseaseMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2004Maaike Bakker MSc Abstract Postural instability and gait disability (PIGD) are disabling signs of Parkinson's disease. Stereotactic surgery aimed at the internal globus pallidus (GPi) or subthalamic nucleus (STN) might improve PIGD, but the precise effects remain unclear. We performed a systematic review of studies that examined the effects of GPi or STN surgery on PIGD. Most studies examined the effects of bilateral GPi stimulation, bilateral STN stimulation, and unilateral pallidotomy; we, therefore, only performed a meta-analysis on these studies. Bilateral GPi stimulation, bilateral STN stimulation, and to a lesser extent, unilateral pallidotomy significantly improved PIGD, and more so during the ON phase than during the OFF phase. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society [source] Substance P presynaptically depresses the transmission of sensory input to bronchopulmonary neurons in the guinea pig nucleus tractus solitariiTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Shin-ichi Sekizawa Substance P modulates the reflex regulation of respiratory function by its actions both peripherally and in the CNS, particularly in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the first central site for synaptic contact of the lung and airway afferent fibres. There is considerable evidence that the actions of substance P in the NTS augment respiratory reflex output, but the precise effects on synaptic transmission have not yet been determined. Therefore, we determined the effects of substance P on synaptic transmission at the first central synapses by using whole-cell voltage clamping in an NTS slice preparation. Studies were performed on second-order neurons in the slice anatomically identified as receiving monosynaptic input from sensory nerves in the lungs and airways. This was done by the fluorescent labelling of terminal boutons after 1,1,-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,,3,-tetra-methylindocarbo-cyanine perchlorate (DiI) was applied via tracheal instillation. Substance P (1.0, 0.3 and 0.1 ,M) significantly decreased the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) evoked by stimulation of the tractus solitarius, in a concentration-dependent manner. The decrease was accompanied by an increase in the paired-pulse ratio of two consecutive eEPSCs, and a decrease in the frequency, but not the amplitude, of spontaneous EPSCs and miniature EPSCs, findings consistent with a presynaptic site of action. The effects were consistently and significantly attenuated by a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist (SR140333, 3 ,M). The data suggest a new site of action for substance P in the NTS (NK1 receptors on the central terminals of sensory fibres) and a new mechanism (depression of synaptic transmission) for regulating respiratory reflex function. [source] Multiple effects of bevacizumab in angiogenesis: implications for its use in age-related macular degenerationACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2009Angela Carneiro Abstract. Purpose:, This study aimed to elucidate the precise effects of bevacizumab in all steps in the neovascularization process in endothelial cells. Methods:, Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with bevacizumab at concentrations within the clinically established range or with identical amounts of excipient. Cell cytotoxicity (evaluated by MTT assay), proliferation (by BrdU incorporation assay), apoptosis (by TUNEL assay), migration (by double-chamber assay) and vessel assembly in matrigel-coated plates were assessed in vitro. Mouse plug matrigel assays were performed to confirm in vitro results. Results:, Incubation of HUVECs with bevacizumab did not present cytotoxicity. Concentrations comparable with those after intravitreal doses of bevacizumab significantly reduced proliferation and migration capacity, and increased apoptotic rates in these cells. In addition, bevacizumab led to a significant decrease in the assembly of capillary-like structures on matrigel assay in comparison with excipient-treated cells. Further substantiating these in vitro findings, bevacizumab also inhibited angiogenesis in a mouse plug matrigel assay, as evaluated by haemoglobin content levels. Conclusions:, These results demonstrate that clinical doses of bevacizumab are able to prevent several steps of the angiogenic process. Bevacizumab is thus currently recommended for treating disorders that present augmented angiogenesis. [source] | ||||||||||