Acute Effects on the Counts of Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Cells After 1 Month of Taoist Qigong Practice.

BACKGROUND: Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, dating back thousands of years, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed to this traditional mind-body method which integrates slow body movements, breathing, and meditation. Albeit we have already reported an immunomodulatory action of qigong in other investigations, measures were then assessed 1 day after the qigong program ended. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of Taoist qigong practice on immune cell counts in healthy subjects 1 h after training. METHOD: Forty-three healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 25 were randomly allocated to the experimental group and 18 to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for 1 month. Blood samples for the quantification of immune parameters (number and percentage of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells) were taken the day before the experiment commenced and 1 h after the last session of the training program ended. As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing higher values in the number (p = 0.006) and the percentage (p = 0.04) of B lymphocytes, as well as lower values in the percentage of NK cells (p = 0.05), as compared to control. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that Taoist qigong is able to exert acute immunomodulatory effects on components of both innate as well as adaptive immune response.

The unfolded protein response and the phosphorylations of activating transcription factor 2 in the trans-activation of il23a promoter produced by ß-glucans.

Current views on the control of IL-23 production focus on the regulation of il23a, the gene encoding IL-23 p19, by NF-κB in combination with other transcription factors. C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), X2-Box-binding protein 1 (XBP1), activator protein 1 (AP1), SMAD, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPß), and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) have been involved in response to LPS, but no data are available regarding the mechanism triggered by the fungal mimic and ß-glucan-containing stimulus zymosan, which produces IL-23 and to a low extent the related cytokine IL-12 p70. Zymosan induced the mobilization of CHOP from the nuclear fractions to phagocytic vesicles. Hypha-forming Candida also induced the nuclear disappearance of CHOP. Assay of transcription factor binding to the il23a promoter showed an increase of Thr(P)-71-Thr(P)-69-activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) binding in response to zymosan. PKC and PKA/mitogen- and stress-activated kinase inhibitors down-regulated Thr(P)-71-ATF2 binding to the il23a promoter and il23a mRNA expression. Consistent with the current concept of complementary phosphorylations on N-terminal Thr-71 and Thr-69 of ATF2 by ERK and p38 MAPK, MEK, and p38 MAPK inhibitors blunted Thr(P)-69-ATF2 binding. Knockdown of atf2 mRNA with siRNA correlated with inhibition of il23a mRNA, but it did not affect the expression of il12/23b and il10 mRNA. These data indicate the following: (i) zymosan decreases nuclear proapoptotic CHOP, most likely by promoting its accumulation in phagocytic vesicles; (ii) zymosan-induced il23a mRNA expression is best explained through coordinated κB- and ATF2-dependent transcription; and (iii) il23a expression relies on complementary phosphorylation of ATF2 on Thr-69 and Thr-71 dependent on PKC and MAPK activities.

Efecto del extracto acuoso de Aloe vera (L) N L Burm sobre indicadores lipídicos de suero de conejo / Effect of the water extract from Aloe vera (L) N L Burm on rabbit serum lipids

Introducción: trabajos realizados con extracto acuoso y gel hojas de Aloe vera (L) N L Burm, administrados a ratones en un modelo de hiperlipidemia aguda inducida con tritón, demostraron un efecto protector al incremento de los lípidos. Objetivos: estudiar el efecto de la administración a dosis repetida de extracto acuoso de A. vera sobre los indicadores lipídicos de suero de conejo. Métodos: conejos machos Nueva Zelandia fueron tratados con extractos acuosos de A. vera a las dosis de 17 y 34 mg/kg de peso corporal, sobre la base de sólidos totales durante 6 semanas, también se incluyó un grupo control sin tratamiento, el peso corporal, colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL colesterol y triglicéridos fueron determinados al inicio y al final del período del experimento. Resultados: se encontró una disminución significativa del colesterol, LDL colesterol y triglicéridos en suero de los animales tratados con la dosis de 34 mg/kg de extracto acuoso al final del experimento, pero el HDL-colesterol no mostró variaciones. Conclusiones: la administración de extracto acuoso de A. vera a conejo durante 6 semanas causó una disminución significativa de los lípidos en suero(AU)

Introduction: the research works conducted with water extract and gel from Aloe vera (L.) N. L. Burm., administered to mice in a triton-induced acute hyperlipidemia pattern, showed a protective effect against the increase of lipids. Objectives: to study the effect of administration of water extract from A. vera at repeated doses on the lipid indicators of rabbit serum. Methods: male New Zealand rabbits were treated with water extracts from Aloe vera at doses of 17 and 34 mg/kg of bodyweight, on the basis of whole solids for 6 weeks. An untreated control group was included. Body weight, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were determined at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period. Results: it was found that cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides significantly decreased in serum of animals treated with 34 mg/kg dose of the water extract at the end of the experiment, however, the HDL-cholesterol did not show any variation. Conclusions: the administration of water extract from Aloe vera to a rabbit for 6 weeks significantly reduced serum lipids(AU)

Efecto del extracto acuoso de Aloe vera (L) N L Burm sobre indicadores lipídicos de suero de conejo / Effect of the water extract from Aloe vera (L) N L Burm on rabbit serum lipids

Introducción: trabajos realizados con extracto acuoso y gel hojas de Aloe vera (L) N L Burm, administrados a ratones en un modelo de hiperlipidemia aguda inducida con tritón, demostraron un efecto protector al incremento de los lípidos. Objetivos: estudiar el efecto de la administración a dosis repetida de extracto acuoso de A. vera sobre los indicadores lipídicos de suero de conejo. Métodos: conejos machos Nueva Zelandia fueron tratados con extractos acuosos de A. vera a las dosis de 17 y 34 mg/kg de peso corporal, sobre la base de sólidos totales durante 6 semanas, también se incluyó un grupo control sin tratamiento, el peso corporal, colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL colesterol y triglicéridos fueron determinados al inicio y al final del período del experimento. Resultados: se encontró una disminución significativa del colesterol, LDL colesterol y triglicéridos en suero de los animales tratados con la dosis de 34 mg/kg de extracto acuoso al final del experimento, pero el HDL-colesterol no mostró variaciones. Conclusiones: la administración de extracto acuoso de A. vera a conejo durante 6 semanas causó una disminución significativa de los lípidos en suero.

Introduction: the research works conducted with water extract and gel from Aloe vera (L.) N. L. Burm., administered to mice in a triton-induced acute hyperlipidemia pattern, showed a protective effect against the increase of lipids. Objectives: to study the effect of administration of water extract from A. vera at repeated doses on the lipid indicators of rabbit serum. Methods: male New Zealand rabbits were treated with water extracts from Aloe vera at doses of 17 and 34 mg/kg of bodyweight, on the basis of whole solids for 6 weeks. An untreated control group was included. Body weight, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were determined at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period. Results: it was found that cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides significantly decreased in serum of animals treated with 34 mg/kg dose of the water extract at the end of the experiment, however, the HDL-cholesterol did not show any variation. Conclusions: the administration of water extract from Aloe vera to a rabbit for 6 weeks significantly reduced serum lipids.

Método analítico para la determinación de protirelina por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución / Analytical methods for the determination of protirelin by high pressure liquid chromatography

Se desarrolló un método analítico para el control de la calidad y estudio de estabilidad de protirelina inyectable. Se realizó el análisis por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución con la utilización de un sistema isocrático de buffer fosfato-metanol (85:15) como fase móvil y una columna Lichrosorb RP-18 de 250 x 4 µm y detección ultravioleta, a una longitud de onda de 210 nm. El método analítico resultó ser lineal, preciso, exacto y específico en el rango de concentraciones estudiadas(AU)

Método analítico para la determinación de protirelina por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución / Analytical methods for the determination of protirelin by high pressure liquid chromatography

Se desarrolló un método analítico para el control de la calidad y estudio de estabilidad de protirelina inyectable. Se realizó el análisis por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución con la utilización de un sistema isocrático de buffer fosfato-metanol (85:15) como fase móvil y una columna Lichrosorb RP-18 de 250 x 4 µm y detección ultravioleta, a una longitud de onda de 210 nm. El método analítico resultó ser lineal, preciso, exacto y específico en el rango de concentraciones estudiadas