Reducing risk factors for eating disorders: targeting at-risk women with a computerized psychoeducational program.

Objective: This controlled study evaluated whether an 8-week program offered over the Internet would significantly decrease body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating patterns, and preoccupation with shape/weight among women at high risk for developing an eating disorder.

Method: Fifty-six college women were recruited on the basis of elevated scores (> or =110) on the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Psychological functioning, as measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory Drive for Thinness (EDI-DT) subscale, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and the BSQ, was assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and at 10-week follow-up.

Effectiveness of an Internet-based program for reducing risk factors for eating disorders.

This study evaluated an Internet-delivered computer-assisted health education (CAHE) program designed to improve body satisfaction and reduce weight/shape concerns--concerns that have been shown to be risk factors for the development of eating disorders in young women. Participants were 60 women at a public university randomly assigned to either an intervention or control condition. Intervention participants completed the CAHE program Student Bodies.

Therapeutic effects of a synthetic peptide of C-reactive protein in pre-clinical tumor models.

Previous studies have shown that multilamellar vesicles (MLV) or other carriers containing purified human C-reactive protein (CRP) have therapeutic activity in preclinical tumor models. Here we evaluated the therapeutic effects of MLV containing novel synthetic peptides, derived from the structure of CRP, on the extent of (a) established lung metastases of fibrosarcoma T241 in C57Bl/6 mice, (b) survival of C57Bl/6 mice bearing established liver metastases of colon carcinoma MCA-38, and (c) primary tumor growth of Renca renal carcinoma in Balb/c mice. In all cases, a single synthetic CRP peptide, RS-83277, demonstrated significant antitumor effects comparable to that seen with intact CRP.

Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication in dexamethasone-treated L929 cells.

We previously demonstrated that dexamethasone treatment of L929 cells inhibited plaque formation by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), encephalomyocarditis virus, or vaccinia virus. We now have characterized the antiviral effects of glucocorticoids in L929 cells. Dexamethasone did not directly inactivate VSV nor did steroid treatment of L929 cells affect virion adsorption or penetration.

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor-alpha-stimulated cell growth by a synthetic peptide.

Estrogen-stimulated growth of the human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 is significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that act as antagonists of EGF's mitogenic events by competing for high-affinity EGF receptor binding sites. These antibodies likewise inhibit the EGF or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-stimulated growth of these MCF-7 cells. An analogous pattern of specific EGF or TGF-alpha growth inhibitory activity was obtained using a synthetic peptide analog encompassing the third disulfide loop region of TGF-alpha, but containing additional modifications designed for increased membrane affinity [( Ac-D-hArg(Et)2(31),Gly32,33]HuTGF-alpha(31-43)NH2).