Ameliorative Effect of Imperatorin on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-Induced Allergic Asthma by Suppressing the Th2 Response in Mice.

Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin derivative and an effective ingredient in several Chinese medicinal herbs. It has favorable expectorant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether imperatorin has protective effects against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p)-induced asthma in mice. Lung and bronchial tissues were histopathologically examined through hematoxylin-eosin staining. The concentrations of immunoglobin E (IgE), IgG1, IgG2a in serum and those of T helper 1 (Th1) and two cytokines and eosinophil-activated chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected using an enzyme immunoassay. Histological examination revealed that imperatorin reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, mucus hypersecretion, and endothelial cell hyperplasia. The examination also indicated that imperatorin could reduce the inflammatory cell count in BALF as well as IgE and IgG1 expression in serum, but IgG2a expression was significantly increased. Imperatorin reduced the production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by Th2, promoted the production of interferon-γ and IL-12 by Th1, and increased the production of IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings suggest that imperatorin has a considerable anti-inflammatory effect on Der p-induced allergic asthma in mice.

The Short- and Long-term Causal Relationships Between Self-compassion, Trait Mindfulness, Caregiver Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Patients with Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Using a prospective longitudinal design, this paper examines a serial mediation model of the associations between self-compassion, trait mindfulness, caregiver stress, and depressive symptoms among the family caregivers of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A four-wave design was used, with initial assessment (T1) and three follow-ups, at the 2nd month (T2), the 5th month (T3), and the 8th month (T4). A total of 123 family caregivers completed the baseline measurements, including caregiver stress, self-compassion, trait mindfulness, and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed by serial mediation models to determine the causal ordering of these variables. RESULTS: Nearly one-quarter of the family caregivers suffered from clinically significant depressive symptoms and the severity of their depression remained unchanged throughout the 8-month follow-up period. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal path analyses revealed that the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms was mediated sequentially by trait mindfulness and caregiver stress. The subscale analysis indicated that the association of higher compassionate action with fewer depressive symptoms was through chain-mediating effects of higher mindful awareness and lower caregiver stress. CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers who have higher levels of self-compassion tend to have more mindfulness; greater mindfulness leads to lower levels of perceived caregiving stress which, in turn, links to fewer symptoms of depression. Both self-compassion and mindfulness could be regarded as protective factors for caregivers to reduce caregiving stress and depression.

Trait mindfulness and depressive symptoms in non-small cell lung cancer patients: the mediating roles of quality of life and meaning in life.

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the potential mediating influences of meaning in life and quality of life in the relationship of trait mindfulness and depressive symptoms in lung cancer patients. Design: We adopted a cross-sectional design studying a sample of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, aged 20-65 years, and receiving cancer treatments or follow-up care. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures included Beck Depression Inventory-II, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and lung cancer specific complementary measure (EORTC QLQ-LC13), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the meaning in life questionnaire. Results: Among 116 lung cancer patients, 26.72% of them had clinically significant depressive symptoms. The presence of meaning, quality of life (QOL) functioning and symptom distress mediated the relationship of trait mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Multiple mediation analyses found that the presence of meaning in life was the main mediator. Conclusion: The reductions of depressive symptoms might be related to trait mindfulness enhancing lung cancer patients' perceptions of meaning in life. A mindfulness program has the potential to improve depressive symptoms in people with lung cancer.

Comparing the Protection Imparted by Different Fraction Extracts of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) against Der p-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used extensively as a food ingredient and medicinally, but the effect on asthmatic airway inflammation has not been studied in detail. We accordingly explored the protective effects exerted by various garlic fraction extracts against airway inflammation with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p)-induced allergic asthma in vivo and in vitro. Garlic extraction was realized using n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol, and water in sequence to obtain different fraction extracts. Mice were orally administered different fractions (80 mg/kg) daily for four weeks. The histological results showed that the water fraction could ameliorate lung-based goblet cell hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mucus hypersecretion. The water fraction extracts decreased IgE and IgG1, and they decreased inflammatory cells as quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); however, they increased IgG2a in serum. Moreover, the water fraction extracts increased IFN-γ and IL-12 (both constituting Th1 cytokines) in BALF, but they reduced IL-13, -4, and -5 (all constituting Th2 cytokines), and also inhibited the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. The water fraction also inhibited the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signal pathways in A549 cells. These findings suggest that water fraction extracts of garlic have a clear anti-inflammatory effect on Der p-induced allergic asthma.

The Protective Role of Garlic on Allergen-Induced Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease worldwide. Garlic extracts have long been used as a food source and in traditional medicine. Crude extracts of garlic are used as an anti-inflammatory agent and have been reported to exhibit antiasthmatic properties. However, molecular mechanisms of garlic extracts in the context of antiasthmatic airway inflammation are still unclear. In this study, the antiasthmatic effect of garlic extracts on Th1, Th2, and Th3 cytokine profiles and immunoregulatory mechanism were explored using an animal model of allergic asthma. Garlic extracts significantly reduced total inflammatory cell counts and eosinophil infiltration and decreased the production of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus IgE in serum and Th1/Th2/Th3 cytokine in bronchoalveolar fluid. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis demonstrated that garlic extracts downregulated the levels of cytokines and chemokines, namely Th2-related IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13; but they simultaneously upregulated Th1-related IFN-γ, IL-12, and Th3-related IL-10 and TGF-ß expression in BALF. The mechanism may be ascribed to the modulation of Th1-, Th2-, and Th3-related cytokine imbalance.

Dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion from others as moderators between stress and depression in caregivers of patients with lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to identify the most important protective factors predicting caregivers' depressive symptoms among factors of caregivers' dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, compassion from others, and patients' dispositional mindfulness and their moderator effects on the relationship between caregiving stress and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 72 lung cancer outpatients and their family caregivers participated in this study. Family caregivers completed the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Compassion Scale, and Compassion from Others Scale. Patients completed the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), BDI-II, and FFMQ. RESULTS: After controlling for patients' factors (treatment status, symptom distress, and depressive symptoms) and caregivers' health status, caregivers' stress and dispositional mindfulness, the domain of mindful awareness, and self-compassionate action were significantly associated with their depressive symptoms. Further analysis indicated that mindful awareness or self-compassionate action could buffer the effect of caregiving stress on depressive symptoms. When the two moderators, mindful awareness and self-compassionate action, were tested simultaneously, only self-compassionate action remained as a significant moderating effect. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers' mindful awareness and self-compassionate action were protective factors, which mitigate the impact of caregiving stress on their depressive symptoms. Therefore, the future supportive program aims at training the competencies of self-compassionate action with mindful awareness, which may enhance caregivers' coping resources.