The effectiveness of dance movement therapy for individuals with Down syndrome: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit deficits in static and dynamic balance abilities and maladaptive functions. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of dance movement therapy (DMT) group intervention in individuals with DS. METHODS: The 31 participating individuals with DS, aged 5-29 years, were randomly divided into intervention (n = 16) and control (n = 15) groups. Posturography was used for static balance measurement, timed up and go test for dynamic balance measurement and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) questionnaire for adaptive function and behavioural problem measurement in participants before and after the DMT interventions. The intervention group underwent 60-min DMT intervention once a week for 10 times, while the control group had usual daily activities. RESULTS: The results revealed a statistically significant difference and large effect sizes in dynamic balance [(f(1, 29) = 4.52, P = 0.04, ηp 2 = 0.14)] in the intervention group compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in static balance and ASEBA scores between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the DMT interventions helped to improve the dynamic balance in individuals with DS.

The serum interleukin 8 level reflects hepatic mitochondrial redox state in hyperthermochemohypoxic isolated liver perfusion with use of a venovenous bypass.

BACKGROUND: We have recently developed a simple method of hyperthermochemohypoxic isolated liver perfusion (HILP) as a regional therapy for unrecognized liver micrometastases. However, little is known about the influence of HILP on cytokine production and liver function. We investigated the influence of HILP on interleukin 8 (IL-8) production and the hepatic mitochondrial function and assessed the relationship between these 2 parameters. We also measured the serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels to examine the involvement of HILP-induced cytokines in the tumor response. METHODS: Sixteen patients with metastatic liver tumors were randomly assigned to undergo hepatectomy with HILP (group A, n = 9) or hepatectomy alone (group B, n = 7). The isolated liver was perfused for 30 minutes with Ringer's lactate solution containing chemotherapeutic agents warmed to 42 degrees C to 43 degrees C without oxygenation. RESULTS: The serum IL-8 levels in group A were markedly increased, with peaks at 3 hours after reperfusion, which was significantly higher than levels in group B (P < .01). In group A the arterial ketone body ratio, which reflects the hepatic mitochondrial redox state, decreased during perfusion and was gradually restored to the preperfusion level 1 hour after reperfusion. However, in group B it decreased during hepatectomy but rapidly recovered 5 minutes after hepatectomy. There was a significant negative correlation between the peak serum IL-8 level and the initial velocity of arterial ketone body ratio recovery for the first 5 minutes after reperfusion r = -0.83, P < .001). The serum TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were temporarily detected only in 3 of 9 patients in group A. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that HILP resulted in augmented IL-8 release but not TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta and that the serum IL-8 level reflects the hepatic mitochondrial redox state. These findings suggest that IL-8 production may be associated with hepatic mitochondrial impairment during ischemia. This work may contribute to new therapeutic strategies not only for hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury but also for metastatic liver tumors.

Attenuation of monosodium urate crystal-induced arthritis in rabbits by a neutralizing antibody against interleukin-8.

Accumulating evidence implicates interleukin-8 (IL-8) as an essential mediator in neutrophil-mediated acute inflammation. Neutrophils have also been shown to have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute gouty arthritis. Thus, we investigate the pathophysiological role of IL-8 in an experimental model of acute gout, monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced arthritis in rabbits. The injection of MSU crystals into knee joints caused a marked swelling of joints. Concomitantly, the infiltration ofleukocytes, mostly neutrophils, was observed in synovial membrane and synovial fluids. The injection of MSU crystals also induced an elevation in synovial fluid IL-8 levels preceding neutrophil infiltration into synovial fluids, without an accompanying increase in plasma IL-8 levels. Immunoreactive IL-8 protein was detected in synovial lining cells at 12-24 h after the injection. IL-8 protein was also observed in infiltrated leukocytes in synovium as early as 3-24 h after the injection. Finally, the intraarticular injection of a neutralizing anti-IL-8 antibody significantly attenuated the crystal-induced joint swelling that occurred at 12 h, and neutrophil infiltration into arthritic joints at 12 and 24 h after the induction. These results provide evidence on the pathogenic roles of locally produced IL-8 in MSU crystal-induced gouty arthritis.

Apoptosis is restricted to the thalamus in thiamine-deficient rats.

Thiamine deficiency (TD) produces lesions in the thalamus, mamillary and medial geniculate nuclei, and inferior colliculus. To clarify the pathogenesis of these lesions, we examined the occurrence of hallmarks of apoptosis following TD in rat brain. Histological assessment showed apoptotic cells in the thalamus and medial geniculate nucleus but not in the inferior colliculus. We used terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine (dUPT)-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and gel electrophoresis to demonstrate that TD is associated with apoptotic cell death. In the thalamus, DNA fragmentation appeared from day 14 of deficiency and preceded the appearance of ataxia. The inferior colliculus and mamillary nucleus were without electrophoretic DNA fragments, and only rare TUNEL-positive labelling was observed. This model shows a rare combination of both apoptosis and necrosis in the same lesioned brain.

Essential involvement of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in acute inflammation.

Neutrophil infiltration into inflammatory sites is one of the hallmarks of acute inflammation. Locally produced chemotactic factors are presumed to mediate the sequence of events leading to the infiltration at inflammatory sites. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a novel leukocyte chemotactic activating cytokine (chemokine), is produced by various types of cells upon stimulation with inflammatory stimuli and exerts a variety of functions on leukocytes, particularly, neutrophils in vitro. However, no definitive evidence has been presented on its role in recruiting and activating neutrophils in the lesions of various types of inflammatory reactions. We administered a highly specific neutralizing antibody against IL-8 in several types of acute inflammatory reactions, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced dermatitis, LPS/IL-1-induced arthritis, lung reperfusion injury, and acute immune complex-type glomerulonephritis. Anti-IL-8 treatment prevented neutrophil-dependent tissue damage as well as neutrophil infiltration in these conditions. These results suggest that IL-8 plays a causative role in acute inflammation by recruiting and activating neutrophils.

Molecular cloning of cDNAs encoding a LD78 receptor and putative leukocyte chemotactic peptide receptors.

Several cDNA clones encoding receptors for leukocyte chemoattractants, including IL-8, C5a, N-formyl peptides (FP), and platelet-activating factor, have been isolated in the past 3 years. The primary structure of these receptors revealed that they are members of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors containing seven transmembrane domains. In this study the polymerase chain reaction was carried out to isolate novel cDNA clones encoding human receptors of IL-8 related cytokines, chemokines, from a human monocyte cDNA library using degenerate oligonucleotide primers devised from conserved sequences among the cDNAs encoding the human receptors for IL-8, FP and C5a. Four novel cDNA clones (HM63, HM74, HM89, and HM145) in addition to cDNAs for FP and C5a receptors were isolated. All polypeptides encoded by the cloned cDNAs share common features with the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, such as seven putative hydrophobic transmembrane domains and, except for HM74, N-linked glycosylation sites near the N-terminus. The amino acid sequence identities among HM63, HM89, HM145, IL-8 receptors, FP receptor, and C5a receptor are in the range of 24-68%, higher than those of other members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Moreover, the number of amino acids between the fifth and sixth transmembrane domains, which varies within this superfamily, is the same in these receptors. Thus, three of the newly identified proteins probably belong to a 'leukocyte chemotactic peptide receptor family'. HM74 differs from the other clones with respect to the amino acid homology, suggesting that this may be the receptor for a different type of ligand. Furthermore, it was confirmed that HM145 is a functional receptor for LD78, one of the C-C chemokines, as revealed by the measurement of decrease of cAMP accumulation as well as calcium influx using stable transfectants.