scholarly journals The effect of acute somatic pain on the killing activity of neutrophils in newborn rats

Author(s):  
V.V. Alekseev ◽  
A.Kh. Kade

The immune system is subject to all sorts of influences. Pain is one of them, accompanying an organism’s existence. It is essential to be aware of and account for age-related characteristics of the innate immunity in order to adequately assess their dynamics in ontogenesis. The literature is scarce on the changes to the killing activity of neutrophils occurring in newborns in response to acute pain. The aim of this study was to detect potential changes to the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in response to an algogenic stimulus in newborn rats. The experiments were carried out in 3-5-day-old rats. Two groups were formed: the control group and the main group, in which acute pain was modelled. Blood samples were collected 2, 30–60 and 120–180 minutes after exposure to the algogenic stimulus. The microbicidal activity of neutrophils was measured using a spectrophotometric modification of the spontaneous/stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test. The results were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. In the first hour following pain modeling, the stimulated NBT reduction test demonstrated an increase in the measured parameters from 71.5 to 87.4 a.u. (р < 0.001); the spontaneous NBT reduction test showed an increase from 50.7 to 58.6 a.u. (p < 0.01) 30 to 60 min after exposure. The most pronounced change of the microbicidal activity coefficient was observed 2 min after pain modeling, increasing from 1.40 to 1.72 a.u (р < 0.001). By the end of the experiment, the measured parameters approximated their initial values. During the analysis, we accounted for the fact that the neutrophil response to the algogenic stimulus was unfolding in the setting of microbial colonization occurring in newborns.

Author(s):  
В.В. Алексеев ◽  
А.Х. Каде

В последние годы все чаще встречаются штаммы микроорганизмов, устойчивые к антибиотикам. Необходим поиск новых средств, обеспечивающих надежный антибактериальный эффект. Актуальным является изучение антимикробных полипептидов. Возникает вопрос, α-дефензины активируются только при микробной атаке или существуют и иные триггеры их вовлечения в иммунологический процесс. Если исходить из того, что любая рана всегда болезненна, но не любая острая боль связана с внешним повреждением тканей, встает вопрос о возможности вовлечения нейтрофилов и α-дефензинов в долорогенный процесс как таковой. Цель работы - выявление кореляционной связи и особенностей вовлечения нейтрофилов и α-дефензинов в острый долорогенный процесс на этапах онтогенеза. Методика. Объект исследования - белые беспородные крысы 3 возрастных групп: месячные (30-35-дневные, n=36), взрослые половозрелые (2-3 месячные, n=36), старые (старше 1 года, n=36).). Каждая группа делилась на контрольную и экспериментальную подгруппы. В экспериментальных подгруппах моделировали острую соматическую боль методом электростимуляции. После болевого воздействия брали материал для исследования через 2, 30-60, 120-180 мин. Содержание α-дефензинов в сыворотке крови определяли методом иммуноферментного анализа. Для оценки микробицидной активности нейтрофилов использовали спонтанный и стимулированный НСТ - тест. Для оценки корреляционной связи между изучаемыми показателями применяли метод ранговой корреляции Спирмена. Результаты. Острая краткосрочная соматическая боль активирует кислородзависимые механизмы микробицидности нейтрофилов и приводит к увеличению уровня α-дефензинов в периферической крови. В онтогенезе реакция имеет свои особенности, но ее стандартный и непродолжительный характер очевидны. Установлена прямая корреляционная зависимость между функциональной активностью нейтрофилов и уровнем α-дефензинов в периферической крови у 30-35-дневных и 2-3-месячных животных. Заключение. Полученные данные имеют значение при разработке препаратов на основе α-дефензинов и их применении пациентами различного возраста при наличии в анамнезе острого болевого синдрома. Microorganism strains resistant to antibiotics have become more common. This fact prompts searching for new means that would provide a reliable antibacterial effect. Studying antimicrobial polypeptides is relevant. A question arises whether α-defensins are activated only during a microbial attack or there are other triggers for their involvement in the immunological process. Since any wound is always painful but acute pain is not always associated with an external injury, the question is whether neutrophils and α-defensins can be involved in the dolorogenic process as such. The aim of the study was to determine correlation and features of neutrophil and α-defensin involvement in an acute dolorogenic process at stages of ontogenesis. Methods. The study was performed on white rats divided into three age groups (30-35-day-old, 2-3-month-old, and older than one year). Each group was divided into control and experimental subgroups. In experimental subgroups, acute somatic pain was modeled by electrostimulation. Material was collected at 2, 30-60, and 120-180 min after electrostimulation. Serum content of α-defensins was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Neutrophil microbicidal activity was evaluated using the spontaneous and stimulated NBT tests. Values were compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test, and correlations were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation test. Results. Acute short-term somatic pain activated oxygen-dependent mechanisms of neutrophil microbicidity and induced increased levels of α-defensins in peripheral blood. This reaction has specific features in ontogenesis but it is obviously standard and short-term. The functional activity of neutrophils was directly correlated with the level of α-defensins in peripheral blood of 30-35-day-old and 2-3-month-old animals. Conclusion. At stages of ontogenesis, oxygen-dependent neutrophil microbicidity and peripheral blood content of α-defensins increase in response to acute, short-term somatic pain. The type of response is determined by age-related features. The study results are important for development of α-defensin-based drugs and prescribing them to patients of different age with a history of acute pain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 864-872
Author(s):  
Fernanda Borowsky da Rosa ◽  
Adriane Schmidt Pasqualoto ◽  
Catriona M. Steele ◽  
Renata Mancopes

Introduction The oral cavity and pharynx have a rich sensory system composed of specialized receptors. The integrity of oropharyngeal sensation is thought to be fundamental for safe and efficient swallowing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at risk for oropharyngeal sensory impairment due to frequent use of inhaled medications and comorbidities including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Objective This study aimed to describe and compare oral and oropharyngeal sensory function measured using noninstrumental clinical methods in adults with COPD and healthy controls. Method Participants included 27 adults (18 men, nine women) with a diagnosis of COPD and a mean age of 66.56 years ( SD = 8.68). The control group comprised 11 healthy adults (five men, six women) with a mean age of 60.09 years ( SD = 11.57). Spirometry measures confirmed reduced functional expiratory volumes (% predicted) in the COPD patients compared to the control participants. All participants completed a case history interview and underwent clinical evaluation of oral and oropharyngeal sensation by a speech-language pathologist. The sensory evaluation explored the detection of tactile and temperature stimuli delivered by cotton swab to six locations in the oral cavity and two in the oropharynx as well as identification of the taste of stimuli administered in 5-ml boluses to the mouth. Analyses explored the frequencies of accurate responses regarding stimulus location, temperature and taste between groups, and between age groups (“≤ 65 years” and “> 65 years”) within the COPD cohort. Results We found significantly higher frequencies of reported use of inhaled medications ( p < .001) and xerostomia ( p = .003) in the COPD cohort. Oral cavity thermal sensation ( p = .009) was reduced in the COPD participants, and a significant age-related decline in gustatory sensation was found in the COPD group ( p = .018). Conclusion This study found that most of the measures of oral and oropharyngeal sensation remained intact in the COPD group. Oral thermal sensation was impaired in individuals with COPD, and reduced gustatory sensation was observed in the older COPD participants. Possible links between these results and the use of inhaled medication by individuals with COPD are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Krytkowska ◽  
Aleksandra Grabowicz ◽  
Katarzyna Mozolewska-Piotrowska ◽  
Zofia Ulańczyk ◽  
Krzysztof Safranow ◽  
...  

AbstractDisturbances in choroidal microcirculation may lead to the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We aimed to assess changes in the choroidal volume and thickness in the macular region in AMD eyes and to investigate whether coexisting vascular risk factors alter choroidal status. We enrolled 354 AMD patients (175 dry, 179 wet AMD) and 121 healthy controls. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and assessment of choroidal thickness and volume. A multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and smoking status revealed that wet AMD was an independent factor associated with higher average thickness of the central ring area (ATC) and average volume of the central ring area (AVC) and lower choroidal vascularity index (CVI) compared to controls (β =  + 0.18, p = 0.0007, β =  + 0.18, p = 0.0008, respectively) and to dry AMD (β =  + 0.17, p = 0.00003 for both ATC and AVC and β =  − 0.30 p < 0.0001 for CVI). ATC, AVC and average volume (AV) were lower in AMD patients with hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (IHD). The duration of hypertension was inversely correlated with ATC, AVC and AV (Rs =  − 0.13, p < 0.05; Rs =  − 0.12; p < 0.05, Rs =  − 0.12; p < 0.05, respectively) while IHD duration negatively correlated with AV (Rs =  − 0.15, p < 0.05). No such associations were observed in the control group. Our findings show that the choroidal vascular system in eyes with AMD is much more susceptible to damage in the presence than in the absence of systemic vascular disease.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1130
Author(s):  
Michio Hashimoto ◽  
Kentaro Matsuzaki ◽  
Shahdat Hossain ◽  
Tomoko Ito ◽  
Harumi Wakatsuki ◽  
...  

Oxidative stress plays an important role in age-associated cognitive decline. We recently reported that dietary intake of perilla seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3, ω-3), helps in maintaining good mental health in adults. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of dietary PO intake on cognitive functions and mental health in healthy, elderly Japanese individuals. Seventy-five healthy volunteers aged 64–84 years were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a PO-administered group. At baseline and at 12 months of intervention, cognitive function, mental health condition, fatty acid profile of the red blood cell plasma membranes (RBC-PM), and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. Results showed that serum biological antioxidant potential and LNA levels in the RBC-PM at 12 months after the trial were significantly higher in the PO group compared to the control group. Further, both the cognitive function measures, as evaluated by the Frontal Assessment Battery test and the apathy scores, tended to be improved after 12 months in the PO group. Our results demonstrate that dietary PO intake enhances the antioxidant potential and prevents the age-related cognitive and mental decline in healthy elderly individuals by enhancing the blood LNA levels.


Author(s):  
Luciano Mesquite Simmo ◽  
Carissa Fouad Ibrahim ◽  
Senice Alvarenga Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Thai Nunes Andrade ◽  
Doora Faleiros Leite ◽  
...  

Objective: To compare the vision-targeted health related quality of life (HRQOL) between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases by the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire. Methods: Cross sectional study with a control group and patients with the following pathologies: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), intracranial hypertension (IH), optic neuritis (ON), ptosis and cataract. Results: All comparisons of the subscales scores among the control group and the patient groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) except for “ocular pain” (p=0.160), “social functioning” (p=0.052) and “peripheral vision” (p=0.112). The control group had the best scores across all dimensions of the NEI VFQ-25. Interestingly, the ARMD and cataract groups presented the best and worst total scores of NEI VFQ-25, respectively. The lowest subscales scores were found in the cataract, in the NAION/ON, and in the POAG groups. Finally, the comparison between the NAION/ON/IH patients and the other eye diseases did not show statistical significance in any subscale. Conclusion: The NEI VFQ-25 showed the impact of various eye conditions in vision-targeted HRQOL, and no difference was measured between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Schröder ◽  
Anna Dintsioudi ◽  
Marit Kristine List ◽  
Heidi Keller

Instructional language programs in German childcare centers have shown limited effectiveness. Two reasons may be that (a) the training is unconnected with everyday situations in which children typically acquire language and (b) the programs adopt a cultural model of psychological autonomy, a model that may be inconsistent with some children’s background. In the present study, we implemented an everyday-based language intervention in four German childcare centers. In a prepost design, teachers ( N = 37, M = 32.97 years) were first trained to adopt an elaborative, socially oriented style. Their language behavior, videotaped and analyzed during daily routines over 1 year, demonstrated significant changes (e.g., asking more open-ended questions, referring to social content and decontextualized content more often). Independent of their families’ cultural orientation. children’s ( N = 85, M = 3.42 years) language competencies significantly increased beyond age-related development norms. In comparison with a control group of children who visited childcare centers implementing instructional language programs, children of the intervention group performed significantly better in nonword repetition (an indicator of lexical knowledge) after 1 year. The results demonstrate that, in a brief intervention, teachers’ conversational style could be effectively changed toward promoting language development in a culture-sensitive way. Although the direct link to children’s language development remains to be proven, results indicate that children with different cultural backgrounds could profit from this everyday-based approach without using extra settings, materials, or instructions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (s2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Müller-Feldmeth ◽  
Katharina Ahnefeld ◽  
Adriana Hanulíková

AbstractWe used self-paced reading to examine whether stereotypical associations of verbs with women or men as prototypical agents (e.g. the craftsman knits a sweater) are activated during sentence processing in dementia patients and healthy older adults. Effects of stereotypical knowledge on language processing have frequently been observed in young adults, but little is known about age-related changes in the activation and integration of stereotypical information. While syntactic processing may remain intact, semantic capacities are often affected in dementia. Since inferences based on gender stereotypes draw on social and world knowledge, access to stereotype information may also be affected in dementia patients. Results from dementia patients (n = 9, average age 86.6) and healthy older adults (n = 14, average age 79.5) showed slower reading times and less accuracy in comprehension scores for dementia patients compared to the control group. While activation of stereotypical associations of verbs was visible in both groups, they differed with respect to the time-course of processing. The effect of stereotypes on comprehension accuracy was visible for healthy adults only. The evidence from reading times suggests that older adults with and without dementia engage stereotypical inferences during reading, which is in line with research on young adults.


1979 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Sutowicz ◽  
Z. Komorowska ◽  
Z. Hanicki ◽  
T. Cichocki ◽  
O. Smoleński

1981 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gordon ◽  
Harvey Oshman

The Rorschach protocols of 20 boys (6 to 11 yr.) rated by their teachers as hyperactive and those of 20 nonhyperactive boys were compared along 16 indices, including R, P, M, FM, C, CF, FC, Sum C, A%, H%, F+%, Sum Shading, and the reaction times. The results suggested that children classified as hyperactive produce fewer movement ( M) and Human ( H) responses but a far greater percentage of Animal ( A) responses than the matched clinic control group. Age-related effects occurred within the hyperactive group such that younger hyperactives produced a higher Sum C, a lower H% and F +%, and had shorter reaction times than the older hyperactives. Findings were discussed in terms of the assessment of hyperactivity within a conceptual framework which regards impulsivity as a major underlying dimension.


Author(s):  
Ilze Upeniece ◽  
Monta Beltiņa

Onychophagia and onychotillomania are rarely seen in clinical practice and are considered undervalued. The study aims were to determine the prevalence of onychophagia and onychotillomania habit in the patient group with hand nail damage and control group, to determine which would be the target population to educate. Patients were interviewed about self-destructive habits. Excel and SPSS were used for data analysis. In the nail damage group, 28.6% of the respondents showed self-destructive habits and past habits – 31.4%. In the control group, the result was 22.9% and 31.4%. For 74.3% of patients the cause of nail damage was skin disease (including 61.54% of respondents with nail damage who have psoriasis), for 5.7% it was age-related nail changes, for 20% traumatic damage and for 57.14% of them it was a result of self-destructive habit. In the nail damage group both – present and past self-destructive habits are higher than in the control group, but it has no statistical significance (p=0.785). 1)The prevalence of onychophagia and onychotillomania does not differ between patients and control group. 2)General education of the population is necessary to actualize this problem, which can worsen nail changes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document