Inflammatory phenotype modulation in the respiratory tract and systemic circulation of e-cigarette users: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim M Sayed ◽  
Jorge A Masso-Silva ◽  
Ankita Mittal ◽  
Arjun Patel ◽  
Erica Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Systemic Circulation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Host Defenses ◽  
Inflammatory Phenotype ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
The Impact

Over 40 million people use e-cigarettes worldwide, but the impact of chronic e-cigarette use on health has not been adequately defined. In particular, effects of e-cigarette aerosol inhalation on inflammation and host defenses across the body are not fully understood. We conducted a longitudinal cohort pilot study to explore changes in the inflammatory state and monocyte function of e-cigarette users (n=20) versus healthy controls (n=13), and to evaluate effects of e-cigarette use reduction on the same. Saliva, sputum, and blood were obtained from e-cigarette users at baseline and after a 2-week intervention of decreased e-cigarette use. Overall, across 38 proteins quantified by multiplex, airway samples from e-cigarette users tended to have decreased levels of immunomodulatory proteins relative to healthy controls, while levels of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in the circulation tended to be elevated. Specifically, e-cigarette users had lower levels of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in saliva (p<0.0001), with higher IL-1Ra and GRO levels in sputum (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively), and higher levels of both TNFβ (p<0.0001) and VEGF (p<0.0001) in plasma. Circulating monocytes from e-cigarette users had alterations in their inflammatory phenotype in response to reduced e-cigarette use, with blunted IL-8 and IL-6 release upon challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively), suggesting a decreased ability to appropriately respond to bacterial infection. Based on these findings, chronic inhalation of e-cigarette aerosols alters the inflammatory state of the airways and systemic circulation, raising concern for the development of both inflammatory and infectious diseases in chronic users of e-cigarettes.

scholarly journals Altered Blood Levels of Vitamin D, Cathelicidin and Parathyroid Hormone in Patients with Sepsis—a Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Greulich ◽  
W. Regner ◽  
M. Branscheidt ◽  
C. Herr ◽  
A. R. Koczulla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Parathyroid Hormone ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
The Impact

It has been recognised that vitamin D (VitD) has a potential role in the regulation of inflammation and protection from infection. In a prospective clinical observational pilot study, we investigated the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 (25(OH D3), 1,25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and cathelicidin in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with or without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). We included 32 patients with SIRS (septic patients), 16 ICU patients without SIRS, and 16 healthy controls. To substantiate the findings of the clinical study, we stimulated monocyte-derived macrophages with microbial patterns and analysed the impact of VitD on release of cytokines and antimicrobial activity. We found that patients with or without SIRS had relatively low levels of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3. Patients with sepsis had significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D3 as compared to ICU control patients and healthy controls (10.53 ± 11.3 μg/l versus 16.46 ± 12.58 μg/l versus 24.04 ± 12.07 μg/l); the same was true for 1,25(OH)2D3. Serum levels of PTH and cathelicidin were significantly increased in sepsis patients, as compared to the other groups. In vitro, VitD significantly decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophages and increased the antimicrobial activity of the cells. We concluded that patients with sepsis have significantly lower VitD levels. In vitro, VitD modulates inflammation and increases the antibacterial activity of innate immune cells. These findings suggest that VitD insufficiency is mechanistically related to increased susceptibility to SIRS and sepsis.

scholarly journals Katalyst Pilot Study: Using Interactive Activities in Anatomy and Physiology to Teach Children the Scientific Foundation of Healthy Lifestyles

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Hagedorn ◽  
Kathryn Baker ◽  
Sara E. DeJarnett ◽  
Tyler Hendricks ◽  
Melissa McGowan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Fifth Grade Students ◽  
State Educational ◽  
The Impact

This pilot study evaluated the impact of the Katalyst curriculum, a fifth-grade experiential learning program, on students’ knowledge of a healthy lifestyle’s impact on body functions. Katalyst’s interactive curriculum spans two days and includes four, 60-min stations on body systems: cardiovascular/endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, and respiratory/musculoskeletal. Three schools were recruited, and two schools completed the intervention sessions. Prior to beginning the stations, fifth-grade students completed a 37-item questionnaire to assess knowledge and perceptions. Students completed the same survey at the end of the Katalyst intervention. Teachers at the school also completed a survey post intervention to provide feedback on the program. Frequency and paired analyses were conducted on student responses and summative content analysis on teacher and volunteer feedback. The School 1 completer (n = 63) baseline mean knowledge score was 66.2%. The School 2 completer (n = 47) baseline mean knowledge score was 67.3%. Following the Katalyst intervention, both schools showed a statistically significant increase in the mean post score to 70.3% (p = 0.0017) and 78.4%(p < 0.0001) at School 1 (n = 63) and School 2 (n = 47), respectively. Teacher feedback (n = 7) revealed that Katalyst was effective in meeting state educational health standards and teachers perceived that the students benefitted from the program more than “reading about the body systems in a textbook or health magazine”. The Katalyst pilot study appeared to improve fifth-grade students’ knowledge of body systems and health. Katalyst aligned with state educational standards and is supported by teachers for an experiential learning opportunity. The Katalyst curriculum could be a potential avenue for health educators in Appalachia.

scholarly journals Original Paper: Informing Young Adults about the Risks of Using Electronic Cigarettes: A Pilot Study of an Informational Mobile Phone Text Messaging Program (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Sue Calabro ◽  
Georges E Khalil ◽  
Minxing Chen ◽  
Cheryl L Perry ◽  
Alexander V Prokhorov
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Health Claims Data ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Young adults are rapidly adopting electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. E-cigarettes’ popularity among young people can be attributed to heavy industry advertising and misleading health claims. Data indicate young e-cigarette users who never used conventional cigarettes are now progressing toward smoking combustible cigarettes. Literature documents the influence of text messaging as a delivery mode to support participants in behavioral interventions. Communicating e-cigarette risks via text messaging has not been tested. OBJECTIVE This pilot study assessed the impact of exposure to text messages on e-cigarette knowledge and risk perception outcomes. METHODS A 2-group randomized pretest and posttest study was conducted among young men and women recruited from vocational training programs. Personal phones were used to receive messages and 95 racially and ethnically diverse participants completed a pretest and posttest. Fifty percent were randomized to either receive gain- or loss-framed messages that integrated the latest scientific findings about e-cigarettes. All messages used wording suitable for audiences with low health literacy. Knowledge and risk perceptions about e-cigarettes and tobacco use were assessed pretest and posttest after message exposure. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 20.8 (SD = 1.7). At pretest, approximately 10.5% of the (n=10/95) participants were current e-cigarette users, and 27.4% (n=26/95) used a variety of tobacco products. Participants randomized to gain-framed messages reported a statistically significant higher risk perception for using e-cigarettes at posttest than those who received loss-framed messages (P = .018). After message exposure there was no change in use of e-cigarettes or other tobacco products. CONCLUSIONS Young adults were informed that e-cigarette use may lead to addiction to nicotine and other consequences. Delivery of effective text messages such as those tested in this pilot can assist young consumers to evaluate and make decisions about e-cigarettes and other evolving tobacco products. CLINICALTRIAL This was a pilot study and not a clinical trial, thus the project was not registered.

scholarly journals Risk Communication in Earthquake Vulnerability in District Bagh, Azad Jammu And Kashmir: Review of Literature and Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-101
Author(s):  
Kamran Azam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
The Body ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Prime Concern ◽  
Earthquake Vulnerability ◽  
The Impact

This study is mainly concerned to assess the role of Risk Communication in Earthquake Vulnerability and its impacts on Building Resilience in District Bagh Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Disaster resilience is gaining attention from all over the world. More specifically, seismic resilience in buildings is of prime concern among governmental bodies of developed as well as developing countries. This is partially due to the fact that the collapsing of vulnerable structures contribute to a great proportion of the number of fatalities in the wake of increasing Seismicity. Secondly, the recurrence of earthquakes on a global scale is increasing with increase in its magnitude. This study was focused to assess the impact and role of risk communication in earthquake vulnerability in district Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir in enhancing resilience of residential buildings and also its moderating role between Earthquake Vulnerability and resilience of residential buildings in study area. In fact there is great gape; people in the vulnerable areas do not get required information about various hazards. For this study District Bagh of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was selected due to the facts, it suffered a lot during 2005 Earthquake and still it is prone to more damages due to lack of implementation of building codes and requisite information on the vulnerability. An exploratory type of study has been conducted. For pilot study 50 respondents were approached for collection of data with the help of questionnaires in different areas of District Bagh. Findings of the pilot study along with recommendations for policy makers, managers and target readers have been given in detail. Contribution to the body of knowledge and future call is also jotted down. If people are educated well about various hazards they can reduce the vulnerability to a great extent. Nevertheless, through better integration of risk communication means and enhancing level of awareness would prove instrumental in overcoming the lapses Keywords: Risk communication, Earthquake vulnerability and Resilience.

scholarly journals Action and Non-Action Oriented Body Representations: Insight from Behavioural and Grey Matter Modifications in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Palermo ◽  
Antonella Di Vita ◽  
Maddalena Boccia ◽  
Federico Nemmi ◽  
Stefano Brunelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Body Representation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lower Limb Amputation ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Body Representations ◽  
The Impact

Objective. Following current model of body representations, we aimed to systematically investigate the association between brain modifications, in terms of grey matter loss, and body representation deficits, in terms of alterations of the body schema (BS) and of non-action oriented body representations (NA), in individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA). Method. BS and NA (both semantic and visuospatial NA) were evaluated in 11 healthy controls and in 14 LLA, considering the impact of clinical variables such as prosthesis use. The association between BS and NA deficits and grey matter loss was also explored in LLA by using Voxel Based Morphometry analysis. Results. LLA's performance was fine in terms of semantic NA, while it showed behavioural impairments both in BS and visuospatial NA as compared to healthy controls. Interestingly the visuospatial NA performance was related to the amount of prosthesis use. NA deficits in terms of visuospatial body map processing were associated with grey matter reduction in left (lobule VIII) and right (crus II) cerebellum, while BS deficits were associated with grey matter reduction in right anterior cingulate cortex and the bilateral cuneus. No significant association was detected for semantic NA. Conclusion. The study of BS and NA representations after limb loss has informed our understanding of the different dynamics (i.e., adjustments to body change) of such representations, supporting current cognitive models of body representation. The clinical relevance of present findings is also discussed.

Gut microbiome a promising target for management of respiratory diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (14) ◽  
pp. 2679-2696
Author(s):  
Riddhi Trivedi ◽  
Kalyani Barve
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Systemic Circulation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lung Pathology ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
Intestinal Microbial Flora ◽  
On Chip

The intestinal microbial flora has risen to be one of the important etiological factors in the development of diseases like colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, anxiety and Parkinson's. The emergence of the association between bacterial flora and lungs led to the discovery of the gut–lung axis. Dysbiosis of several species of colonic bacteria such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and transfer of these bacteria from gut to lungs via lymphatic and systemic circulation are associated with several respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, etc. Current therapies for dysbiosis include use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics to restore the balance between various species of beneficial bacteria. Various approaches like nanotechnology and microencapsulation have been explored to increase the permeability and viability of probiotics in the body. The need of the day is comprehensive study of mechanisms behind dysbiosis, translocation of microbiota from gut to lung through various channels and new technology for evaluating treatment to correct this dysbiosis which in turn can be used to manage various respiratory diseases. Microfluidics and organ on chip model are emerging technologies that can satisfy these needs. This review gives an overview of colonic commensals in lung pathology and novel systems that help in alleviating symptoms of lung diseases. We have also hypothesized new models to help in understanding bacterial pathways involved in the gut–lung axis as well as act as a futuristic approach in finding treatment of respiratory diseases caused by dysbiosis.

Pilot Study: The Impact of Yoga on Health

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle V. Shelov ◽  
Sonia Suchday ◽  
Jennifer P. Friedberg
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
The Impact

The Impact of Shariah Governance and Corporate Governance on the Risk Management Practices: Evidence from Local and Foreign Islamic Banks in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Sabri Embi ◽  
Zurina Shafii
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
T Test ◽  
The Body ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Shariah Governance ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Shariah governance and corporate governance (CG) on the risk management practices (RMPs) of local Islamic banks and foreign Islamic banks operating in Malaysia. The Shariah governance comprises the Shariah review (SR) and Shariah audit (SA) variables. The study also evaluates the level of RMPs, CG, SR, and SA between these two type of banks. With the aid of SPSS version 20, the items for RMPs, CG, SR, and SA were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). From the PCA, one component or factor was extracted each for the CG, SR, and RMPs while another two factors were extracted for the SA. Primary data was collected using a self-administered survey questionnaire. The questionnaire covers four aspects ; CG, SR, SA, and RMPs. The data received from the 300 usable questionnaires were subjected to correlation and regression analyses as well as an independent t-test. The result of correlation analysis shows that all the four variables have large positive correlations with each other indicating a strong and significant relationship between them. From the regression analysis undertaken, CG, SR, and SA together explained 52.3 percent of the RMPs and CG emerged as the most influential variable that impacts the RMPs. The independent t-test carried out shows that there were significant differences in the CG and SA between the local and foreign Islamic banks. However, there were no significant differences between the two types of the bank in relation to SR and RMPs. The study has contributed to the body of knowledge and is beneficial to academicians, industry players, regulators, and other stakeholders.

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