The relationship between worry and attentional bias to threat cues signalling controllable and uncontrollable dangers.

People vary in the frequency with which they worry and there is large variation in the degree to which this worry disrupts their everyday functioning. Heightened tendency to experience disruptive worry is characterised by an attentional bias towards threat. While this attentional bias is often considered maladaptive, it can be adaptive when it concerns threat cues signalling dangers that can be mitigated through personal action.

Trait anxiety and the alignment of attentional bias with controllability of danger.

Attentional bias to threat cues is most adaptive when the dangers they signal can readily be controlled by timely action. This study examined whether heightened trait anxiety is associated with impaired alignment between attentional bias to threat and variation in the controllability of danger, and whether this is moderated by executive functioning. Participants completed a task in which threat cues signalled money loss and an aversive noise burst (the danger).

The alcohol-induced conformational changes in casein micelles: a new challenge for the purification of colostrinin.

Recent advances in protein separation technology have allowed for the isolation of whey proteins and peptides of significant biological importance. In this study, we report a novel method for isolation and purification of the neuroprotective proline-rich polypeptides, also known as Colostrinin (CLN). Although CLN was first isolated from ovine colostrum and characterized as a complex of small molecular peptides, its constituents are present also in other mammal colostrums.

Modulation of 4HNE-mediated signaling by proline-rich peptides from ovine colostrum.

In previous studies we showed that colostrinin (CLN), a complex of proline-rich polypeptides derived from ovine colostrum, induces mitogenic stimulation, as well as a variety of cytokines in human peripheral blood leukocytes, and possesses antioxidant activity in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. In this study we investigated the effects of CLN on 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE)-mediated adduct formation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) metabolism, and the modification of signal transduction cascade that leads to activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in PC12 cells. Here we demonstrate that CLN (1) reduced the abundance of 4HNE-protein adducts, as shown by fluorescent microscopy and Western blot analysis; (2) reduced intracellular levels of ROS, as shown by a decrease in 2',7'-dichlorodihydro-fluorescein-mediated fluorescence; (3) inhibited 4HNE-mediated GSH depletion, as determined fluorimetrically; and (4) inhibited 4HNE-induced activation of JNKs.

Colostrinin proline-rich polypeptide complex from ovine colostrum--a long-term study of its efficacy in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Colostrinin, a proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) isolated from ovine colostrum, with immunoregulatory and procognitive properties, has shown positive effects in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long-term Colostrinin treatment of AD patients.

Material/methods: The patients were taking Colostrinin tablets (containing 100 mg of PRP complex) every other day for three weeks, followed by a 2-week hiatus to avoid the development of hyporeactivity.

Towards an understanding of biological role of colostrinin peptides.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the structure and possible function of colostrinin, also known as a proline rich polypeptide (PRP). The molecular weight of colostrinin was originally determined by gel filtration to be 17,200 daltons. In the presence of guanidinum chloride, however, the molecular weight was found to be about 6,000 daltons.

Colostrinin: a proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) complex isolated from ovine colostrum for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

A proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) complex, subsequently called Colostrinin, was isolated from ovine colostrum. The complex showed immunomodulatory properties in mice, rats, and chickens, inducing maturation and differentiation of thymocytes. It was recently found that Colostrinin is a cytokine-like factor that acts as an inducer of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and other cytokines in human peripheral blood and cord blood leukocyte cultures and has psycho-immuno-enhancing activity in volunteers.

Oral cavity gate of an entry into the communication network.

For ages naso-oro-pharyngeal cavity was considered as gate of entry to living organism for air and food. In recent years, however, the thoughts have changed considerably. Several lines of evidence indicate that the oral cavity with adjacent cavities plays a pivotal role for the recognition of signals coming from the surrounding world.

Tumor-associated antigens are cytokine inducers and hyporeactivity factors to the immune system.

We investigated possible mechanisms leading to the inhibition of the immune system in people with chronic disorders. Tumor cell produce protein released into the circulation, such as tumor associated antigens, may play an important role in processes preceding paralysis of the immune system. To test this hypothesis the following tumor associated antigens were used: AFP, OFP, CA-125, CA-50 and CA-19-9.

Comparison of the long-term effects of treatment with oral and parenteral interferon alpha in chronic viral hepatitis patients.

This report presents the interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment results for 75 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) (51 cases) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (24 cases) induced hepatitis in maximal 61 months follow-up. Among the group of 51 patients with chronic HBV hepatitis, 35 were treated orally with IFN-alpha in the form of lozenges in low daily doses (37.5-150 U).

Natural human interferon alpha given orally has different effects on patients with distinct forms of chronic viral hepatitis B.

During therapy of chronic viral hepatitis B (CVHB), some patients treated with natural human interferon alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) lozenges failed to respond. These observations triggered studies aimed to determine whether there are markers predicting patients' response to therapy with nHuIFN-alpha lozenges. In these studies, 32 patients with CVHB were involved: 20 males and 12 females, 16-61 years of age with proven persistent hepatitis B viremia (HBV).

Natural human interferon alpha may act differently when given parenterally or orally to patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus.

A literature review of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) treated with natural human interferon alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) given parenterally every day for 28 days revelated that even the daily dose of (5 x 10(6)IU) of IFN-alpha inhibits cellular metabolism. As a result of metabolic block, the number of blood elements were diminished. Furthermore treated patients recorded several different adverse reactions.

Oral application of cytokines.

A number of different laboratories reported on studies with orally administered interferons and cytokines. Their observations extend previous observations which showed that orally administered interferons and cytokines can exert both local and systemic effects. As difficult as it may be to understand how orally administered interferons and cytokines may exert both effects, the increasing number of laboratories that demonstrate biological effects with orally administered cytokines suggests that serious consideration be given to the possibility that orally administered interferons and cytokines can indeed exert effects.

Early changes in the plasma proteins of patients treated with low doses of oral natural human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha).

The comparison of electrophoretic protein patterns and concentrations of the G, A and M immunoglobulins before initiation of oral IFN-alpha therapy of viral hepatitis and after 2 weeks of treatment allow to predict patient's response. Patient who after 2 weeks of treatment with ultra-low orally administered IFN-alpha responds with decrease of alpha-2 and beta globulin fractions, IgG levels and IgG:IgA ratio, together with increase of IgA and IgM concentrations has a good chance for rapid elimination of HBe antigen and seroconversion. On the other hand, a patient who responds to such therapy with decrease of serum albumin concentration, increase of alpha-1 and gamma globulin fractions in electrophoresis and decrease of IgG, IgA and IgM will most probably seroconvert rather late.

Treatment of six patients with chronic active HCV hepatitis, with low dose natural human interferon alpha administered orally.

Following the widely accepted therapeutic standard of treatment of HCV infection with parenteral interferon alpha, and encouraged by the author's won good experience with orally administered natural human interferon alpha in low doses (leuHuIFN alpha (ldou)), applied to chronic active HBV hepatitis patients, this form of interferon was given to six randomly selected HCV infected patients (2 women, 4 men) aged 34-62 years. The diagnosis was made based on a clinical and histological evaluation and confirmed by anti-HCV antibodies detection. In 2 out of 6 patients, leuHuIFN alpha (ldou) was employed immediately after steroid discontinuation.

Treatment of fourteen chronic active HBsAg+, HBeAg+ hepatitis patients with low dose natural human interferon alpha administered orally.

The therapy concept is based on a theory of the immunocorrective effect of orally administered natural human interferon alpha in low doses (leuHuIFN alpha (ldou)), manifolded by the logistic amplification system seated in the oral cavity. Fourteen randomly selected patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, aged 7-59 years, were assigned to treatment. All the patients had been treated for several months to several years with steroids, with no beneficial effect--clinical and biochemical symptoms of active liver disease, with histopathological progression (up to liver cirrhosis) had been permanently present.

Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis type B with oral mucosal administration of natural human interferon alpha lozenges.

Results of the administration of natural human interferon alpha (nIFN-alpha) into the oral cavity of 28 patients with chronic aggressive viral hepatitis type B are shown. Diagnosis of chronic aggressive viral hepatitis type B was based on clinical symptoms of disease, histopathological changes as evidenced by liver biopsy and persistence of HBV markers in patient sera. The daily dose of nIFN-alpha ranged from 75-200 IU/day.

Evaluation of the efficacy of natural human interferon alpha lozenges on the clinical course of childhood neoplasia and in chronic hepatitis B virus infection in patients who were successfully treated for pediatric malignancies.

The immunostimulating and anti-cancer action of interferons (IFNs) has been known for many years. However, IFNs have not been introduced widely into the schemes of oncological treatment because of serious side effects potentiating untoward effects of chemotherapy. In addition using high doses of IFNs by parental routes the cost of such therapy is prohibitively high.

The use of interferon modulates the negative effects of heat stress on poultry production.

A trial was conducted with broilers reared in two temperature environments; one was thermoneutral and the other had cycling ambient temperatures. Human interferon alpha (HuIFN-alpha) was added to the drinking water daily at four dose levels (0.0, 0.

Effect of low dose natural human interferon alpha given into the oral cavity on the recovery time and death loss in feedlot hospital pen cattle: a field study.

A total of 4577 feeder cattle were treated with a single oral dose of 33.0 international units (IU) of natural human interferon alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) per 100 pounds body weight, upon entry into the feedlot hospital pen. Another 2494 cattle received diluent alone and served as placebo controls.

Oral therapy with human interferon alpha in calves experimentally injected with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.

Fifty-six calves, seronegative for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, were randomly divided into 7 equal groups (n = 8) and given 0.0, 0.05, 0.

Molecular species occurring in naturally induced interferon alpha.

Human interferon alpha (HuIFN-alpha) preparations induced in human peripheral white blood cells by Sendai virus were analyzed for activity after ultrafiltration, ion exchange, metal ion chromatography and isoelectrofocusing. It was found that HuIFN-alpha forms complexes with various physical properties and activities. Some of the IFN-alpha copurify with high molecular weight complexes.

An interim report on the effect of natural human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) lozenges in patients seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Oral mucosal administration of natural human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) lozenges has previously been applied to the treatment of HIV-1 seropositive patients with benefits including weight gain and amelioration of clinical signs and symptoms of disease. These previous studies have been of short duration and employed treatment at a constant dosage. In this interim report, we describe the positive effects of long-term administration of IFN-alpha lozenges given in increasing dosages over the time.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by human interferons alpha, beta and gamma.

The effect of various preparations of human interferon (HuIFN) upon human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication in cell lines and primary cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was investigated. Natural interferon alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) exhibited a much higher inhibitory effect upon HIV-1 replication than did recombinant HuIFN-alpha (rHuIFN-alpha).

A new approach to chronic viral disease therapy by cytokines.

Eradication of an infectious agent during the acute phase of infection is a complicated process which involves several specific and non-specific mechanisms of the immune system. In chronic diseases, one of these steps may be missing or impaired which results in a malfunctions of the whole system and prolonged presence in the host invading pathogen. Mentioned above mechanisms are governed by cytokine network.