Radiation-Detoxified Form of Endotoxin Effectively Activates Th Responses and Attenuates Ragweed-Induced Th-Type Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Urbanization with reduced microbial exposure is associated with an increased burden of asthma and atopic symptoms. Conversely, environmental exposure to endotoxins in childhood can protect against the development of allergies. Our study aimed to investigate whether the renaturation of the indoor environment with aerosolized radiation-detoxified lipopolysaccharide (RD-LPS) has a preventative effect against the development of ragweed-induced Th-type airway inflammation.

Fructose, glucose and fat interrelationships with metabolic pathway regulation and effects on the gut microbiota.

The purpose of this 30-day feeding study was to elucidate the changes, correlations, and mechanisms caused by the replacement of the starch content of the AIN-93G diet (St) with glucose (G), fructose (F) or lard (L) in body and organ weights, metabolic changes and caecal microbiota composition in rats (Wistar, SPF). The body weight gain of rats on the F diet was 12% less (P = 0.12) than in the St group.

Real-World Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study.

Objective: While efficacy of massage and other nonpharmacological treatments for chronic low back pain is established, stakeholders have called for pragmatic studies of effectiveness in "real-world" primary health care. The Kentucky Pain Research and Outcomes Study evaluated massage impact on pain, disability, and health-related quality of life for primary care patients with chronic low back pain. We report effectiveness and feasibility results, and make comparisons with established minimal clinically important differences.

Comparison of endotoxin levels in cow's milk samples derived from farms and shops.

The observations on the protective effect of bacterial endotoxin in farm-derived cow's milk on childhood asthma and allergy are contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the endotoxin levels in 'farm-derived whole raw' and 'processed shop' sources of cow's milk, and to test how the temperature and storing conditions might alter their endotoxin concentrations. Milk was collected from farms and shops.

The immunomodulatory role of bile acids.

Enzymatic oxidation of cholesterol generates numerous distinct bile acids which function both as detergents that facilitate the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids and as hormones that activate five distinct receptors. Activation of these receptors alters gene expression in multiple tissues, leading to changes not only in bile acid metabolism but also in glucose homeostasis, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, energy expenditure, intestinal motility, bacterial growth, inflammation, and in the liver-gut axis. This review focuses on the present knowledge regarding the physiologic and pathologic role of bile acids and their immunomodulatory role, with particular attention to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) and bile acid and immunological disorders.

Nutrition intervention to decrease symptoms in patients with advanced heart failure.

For a majority of patients with advanced heart failure, there is a need for complementary, non-pharmacologic interventions that could be easily implemented by health care providers to provide palliative care. Three major pathologic pathways underlying heart failure symptoms have been identified: fluid overload, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Prior research has demonstrated that three nutrients-sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, and lycopene-can alter these pathologic pathways.

Role of oil vehicle on hepatic cell proliferation in PCB-treated rats.

We report the role of dietary glycine and the type of oil used as a vehicle in the hepatotoxicity of control rats and rats treated with 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153). In our first experiment, glycine or valine (as control) was fed in an unrefined diet at 5% for the entire study duration (5 days) to inhibit Kupffer cell activity. PCB-153 (100 or 300 μmol/kg) dissolved in medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, was injected intraperitoneally 2 days before euthanasia; the peroxisome proliferator Wy-14,643 was included as a positive control.

Isoflavone-rich soy isolate reduces lipid peroxidation in mouse liver.

The purpose of this study was to determine if an isoflavone-rich soy isolate affords protection against peroxidative damage in vivo. Weanling C57BL6 male mice were fed a basal diet (AIN-93G) supplemented with either nothing or 1.08 gram isoflavone-rich soy isolate/kg diet for 60 days.

Impact of two types of Internet-based information on medical students' performance in an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).

Objectives: Internet-based information has potential to impact physician-patient relationships. This study examined medical students' interpretation and response to such information presented during an objective clinical examination.

Method: Ninety-three medical students who had received training for a patient centered response to inquiries about alternative treatments completed a comprehensive examination in their third year.

Innovations in integrative healthcare education: a healing journey for cancer patients in ontario and an online interdisciplinary CAM course for allied health students in Kentucky.

Content on integrative healthcare and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is being taught in hundreds of educational programs across the country. Nursing, medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, and other programs are finding creative and innovative ways to include these approaches in new models of education and practice. This column spotlights such innovations in integrative healthcare and CAM education and presents readers with specific educational interventions they can adapt into new or ongoing educational efforts at their institution or programs.

Inhibition of advanced glycation end product formation on collagen by rutin and its metabolites.

Several lines of evidence suggest that rutin, flavonoid in fruits and vegetables, or one of its metabolites may effectively modulate advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation. Following ingestion, rutin forms metabolites that include 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA), 3,4-dihydroxytoluene (3,4-DHT), m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (m-HPAA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (homovanillic acid, HVA) and 3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxyflavonol (quercetin). We studied the effects of rutin and its metabolites on the formation of AGE biomarkers such as pentosidine, collagen-linked fluorescence, N(epsilon)-carboxymethyllysine (CML) adducts, glucose autoxidation and collagen glycation, using an in vitro model where collagen I was incubated with glucose.

Adenosine inhibits the release of interleukin-1beta in activated human peripheral mononuclear cells.

The effects of adenosine and subtype-specific activators of adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B and A3) were studied on the release of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) from peripheral mononuclear cells, monocytes and lymphocytes. In the cells activated by the protein kinase C specific phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and Ca(2+) ionophore (A23187) both adenosine and the subtype-specific receptor agonists, CPA (A1), CGS 21680 (A2A) and IB-MECA (A3) induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-1beta release. The rank order of potency in the inhibition of IL-1beta release was CPA=CGS 21680>IB-MECA>adenosine>NECA (in the presence of A1, A2A and A3 receptor inhibitors).

Large doses of zinc oxide increases the activity of hydrolases in rats.

The effect of pharmacological doses of zinc oxide (1000; 2500; 5000 mg per kg diet) and two levels of dietary protein on pancreatic and intestinal hydrolase activity in rats were studied. It was hypothesized that ZnO would increase intestinal and pancreatic hydrolase enzyme activity. Male Wistar rats, averaging 64 g body weight, were randomly allocated to dietary treatments (chow diets- meeting all NRC requirements) containing 10% or 15% protein supplemented with additional ZnO (above 100 mg/kg ZnSO(4)) as follows: 0.

Effects of carnitine and taurine on fatty acid metabolism and lipid accumulation in the liver of cats during weight gain and weight loss.

Objective: To determine the effects of carnitine (Ca) or taurine (Ta) supplementation on prevention of lipid accumulation in the liver of cats.

Animals: 24 adult cats.

Procedure: Cats were fed a weight-gaining diet sufficient in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), low in long-chain n-3 PUFAs (n-3 LPUFA), and containing corn gluten for 20 weeks.

Effect of dietary protein quality and essential fatty acids on fatty acid composition in the liver and adipose tissue after rapid weight loss in overweight cats.

Objective: To examine effects of dietary protein quality (casein [CA] vs corn gluten [CG]) and dietary lipids (corn oil [CO] vs oil blend [OB] rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [LCPUFAs]) on fatty acid composition in liver and adipose tissue after weight loss in overweight cats.

Animals: 24 ovariohysterectomized adult cats.

Procedure: Cats were allowed ad libitum access to a high-quality diet until they weighed 30% more than their ideal body weight.

The effects of fish oil and isoflavones on delayed onset muscle soreness.

Introduction/purpose: Fish oils (FO) have been shown to modulate the inflammatory response through alteration of the eicosanoid pathway. Isoflavones (ISO) appear to reduce the inflammatory pathway through their role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) develops after intense exercise and has been associated with an inflammatory response.