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AIDS Action. 1999 Oct-Dec;(46):7.
Adapting traditional healing practices.
Weiser J.
PIP: The Aboriginal people in Canada have been noted to have low self-esteem, subsequently increasing their risk of HIV. To this effect, two traditional healing practices are being used to help these people avoid HIV infection, and to live more healthily and positively if they are infected. The first method is the Medicine Wheel, which is a traditional model used to represent the complex interrelationship among all living things and show how their immune system is physically affected by their emotions and worries. Many Aboriginal AIDS Organizations, counselors and others are now using this AIDS teaching Wheel model. Meanwhile, the second method is the Sharing Circles, which provide an environment where people feel safe to talk about HIV and give participants a sense of support and a means for expression without stigma or judgement. As a result, many people who attend HIV circles begin to take better care of themselves and of others. Overall, it is emphasized that these traditional healing practices can be effectively adapted for use in HIV counseling and education.
online pharmacy ref. source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12296176&dopt=Abstract
J Periodontol. 2002 Sep;73(9):995-1002.
Resolution of crevicular fluid leukocyte activity in patients treated for aggressive periodontal disease.
Buchmann R, Hasilik A, Van Dyke TE, Lange DE.
Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, MA, USA. rainer_buchmanahoo.com
BACKGROUND: Enhanced neutrophil responses play a critical role in the activation of the innate immune system and causation of aggressive periodontitis (AgP). The hypothesis that comprehensive periodontal treatment expedites resolution of amplified leukocyte activity and facilitates the reconstitution of periodontal health was tested. METHODS: Four different gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) markers from 14 patients were characterized prior to and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after periodontal therapy. GCF myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase (beta-NAH), and beta-glucuronidase (beta-G) were determined spectrophotometrically, and cathepsin D (CD) by liquid scintillation counting using [14C] hemoglobin as substrate. The primary outcome was long-term stability of periodontal health. RESULTS: In untreated AgP, GCF markers were significantly amplified (MPO: 1.9-fold; beta-NAH: 1.3-fold; beta-G: 1.7-fold; CD: 4.7-fold). Following periodontal therapy, the leukocyte activity was significantly dampened (0.3- to 0.5-fold), and paralleled with a sustained improvement of periodontal health (P < 0.05). Thereafter and at 3 years, GCF leukocyte responses remained on a physiologic low level compatible to normal immune function. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive treatment of AP induces a downregulation of amplified crevicular neutrophil activity. The release of the innate immune system from exacerbating damage elicits a successful reconstitution of long-term periodontal health with no setbacks seen after 3 years.
online pharmacy ref. source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12296600&dopt=Abstract
Immunol Invest. 2002 Aug-Nov;31(3-4):219-31.
Antibodies against the human heat shock protein hsp70 in patients with severe coronary artery disease.
Kocsis J, Veres A, Vatay A, Duba J, Karadi I, Fust G, Prohaszka Z.
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Heat shock proteins (hsps) play complex role in the function of the immune system, they can activate both humoral and cellular immune response, as well the complement system. Although autoimmunity to hsp70 was implicated in certain autoimmune diseases and other conditions, the exact role of anti-hsp70 antibodies is not known. It was demonstrated by our previous work and other's findings that antibodies against the 60 kDa hsps are strongly associated with coronary atherosclerosis and carotis disease. It is also known that there is increased hsp70 expression at different sites of atherosclerosis. Therefore our aim was to study whether level of anti-hsp70 antibodies correlate with the presence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured and compared anti-hsp70 IgG antibody levels in CAD patients (n = 99) and healthy subjects (n = 99) with ELISA. The frequency of these antibodies was high in both groups and there was no significant difference in the median level of anti-hsp70 antibodies between patients with severe CAD and controls (653 (400-1141) vs. 630 (326-1152) AU/mL, P = 0.337). Adjustment for age, sex, BMI and lipid parameters did not change this result. Furthermore we did not find a correlation between anti-hsp70 antibody levels and certain risk factors of CAD (age, lipid parameters, body mass index, C-reactive protein, gender, smoking, diabetes and anti-hsp60 antibodies). By contrast, in accordance with our previous findings, anti-hsp60 and anti-hsp65 antibody levels were significantly higher in CAD patients, compared to this control group (p < 0.0001 for both variables). We did not find any correlation between the levels of anti-hsp70 and anti-hsp60 or anti-hsp65 antibodies either in the patients or the controls. The exact role of hsp70 in atherosclerosis is controversial, but we suggest that humoral immunity against human hsp70 does not contribute to coronary atherosclerosis in contrast to antibodies against 60kDa hsps.
online pharmacy ref. source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12472181&dopt=Abstract
Mech Ageing Dev. 2002 Jul;123(10):1419-21.
CTLA-4 upregulation during aging.
Leng Q, Bentwich Z, Borkow G.
Ruth Ben-Ari Institute of Clinical Immunology and AIDS Center, Kaplan Medical Center, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
The immune system gradually becomes anergic with age. Here, we measured intracellular levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), a negative regulator of T-cells, in 53 healthy individuals aged 18-94. We found a highly significant correlation between age and percent of CTLA-4+CD4+ cells (r=0.6, P<0.001) and between age and mean fluorescence intensities of CTLA-4 (i.e. number of molecules, r=0.61, P<0.001). CTLA-4 levels were also correlated with immune activation, determined by levels of HLA-DR+CD3+ cells (r=0.55, P<0.001). We postulate that immune senescence associated with age is caused in part by chronic immune activation with related decrease in CD28 costimulatory molecules and increase in inhibitory CTLA-4 molecules.
online pharmacy ref. source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12297345&dopt=Abstract
Cell Physiol Biochem. 2002;12(4):197-206.
Down-regulation of TFF expression in gastrointestinal cell lines by cytokines and nuclear factors.
Dossinger V, Kayademir T, Blin N, Gott P.
University of Tubingen, Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Div. Molecular Genetics, Germany. vdossingeotmail.com
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Trefoil peptides (TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3) are acute phase proteins up-regulated in response to gastrointestinal mucosal damage. They promote cell migration, protect and heal the mucosa and may function as tumorsuppressors. We assumed them to be regulated by the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL6), which trigger the transcriptional factors NF-kappaB and C/EBPbeta. METHODS: Following IL1beta and IL6 stimulation, expression of TFF genes was analyzed in gastrointestinal cell lines HT-29 and KATO III by reporter gene assays using TFF promoter constructs and by quantitative real-time PCR. NF-kappaB and C/EBPbeta were transiently co-expressed. RESULTS: We have functionally identified transcription factors NF-kappaB and C/EBPbeta to inhibit transcription of human TFF genes. Down-regulation of TFF transcription is also observed by IL1beta and IL6, suggesting crosstalk with or in response to the immune system. IL1beta and IL6 caused a 3- to 11-fold reduction in TFF mRNA expression, displayed in real-time PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Down-regulation of intestinal trefoil factor TFF3 due to transcriptional repression by IL1beta through NF-kappaB as well as by IL6 through C/EBPbeta activation in vitro may reflect the situation in vivo and may contribute to ulceration and decreased wound healing during inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, IL1 and IL6 over-expression in chronic gastritis may lead to mucosal damage and gastric carcinogenesis through transcriptional repression of TFF1 and TFF2. 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
online pharmacy ref. source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12297725&dopt=Abstract
Hair loss is a problem in modern soceity. Examining the factors of hair growth may
shed light on how hair loss might occur.
How long can hair grow before it stops growing eventually if it does?
Given that the hair growth rate is quite uniform and constant, somewhere between 0.3-0.5 millimeters per day, it's believed that the length of anagen, the growth phase, differs among individuals, and this is the major determinant to the maximum hair length. For some individuals, anagen may last ten years. Of course the length of the anagen is governed by genes, and the genetic background of the individuals. Non-genetic factors such as nutritional condition, weather, seasonal changes (hair may grow a bit faster during winter), taking medications, health condition may of course influence the rate of
hair growth as well as
The shape of the hair, straight or curly, is dependent on the shape of the follicle. A circular or round hair follicle would generate straight hair, while the follicle with oval or elliptical shapes (in its cross-section) would produce a curly hair.
DHEA has been suggested to provide numerous potential benefits. DHEA (or dehydroepiandrosterone) is converted into androgens (male hormones)
or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells.
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