1,721,172 research outputs found
[Impact of SPA therapy with sulphureous mineral water on quality of life and psychological distress in chronic plaque psoriasis]
No full textThe plaque psoriasis, one of the most common form of psoriasis, is a chronic inflammatory disease. This pathology can cause devastating effects on quality of life and social relations with significant physical and psychological distress. Currently among the therapeutic agents available for the treatment of psoriasis is including SPA therapy, whose mechanism of action is only partially known, as well as very few studies examined the impact of this therapy on the quality of life. On the basis of these considerations, the research analyzed the effectiveness of SPA bath therapy (BLT) and its impact on quality of life and psychological distress in patients suffering from chronic plaque psoriasis
[Knee osteoarthritis and SPA therapy: assessment of joint function and quality of life].
No full textIn industrialized countries the increase in life expectancy of the population has led to an increase in chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). Knee osteoarthritis for the high disability and psychological stress, not considered adequately, has negative impact on the quality of life. In this pathology SPA therapy, in particular the sulphur mud-bath therapy, can provide a stage of the therapeutic strategy. However, studies on the impact of SPA therapy on the quality of life in knee osteoarthritis are insufficient. The aim research was to evaluate the effectiveness of SPA therapy on chronic pain, joint function and psychological distress that characterize knee osteoarthritis.The study has been performed on 44 subjects affected by knee Osteoarthritis, being 27 (61\%) women and 17 (39\%) men (mean age: 58±8.7 years, age range: 42-76 years). The investigated subjects were treated with a cycle of a combination of daily locally applied mud-packs and bicarbonate-sulphurous mineral bath water from Terme of Telese SpA (Benevento-Italy). At the beginning and at the end of the Spa therapy was evaluated the level of pain (using VAS scale), the degree of knee flexion (using goniometer), the level of anxiety and depression (using SDS Zung Test and SAS Zung test) and the impact of sulphurous mud-bath treatment on quality of life (using the algofunctional Lequesne indice).At the end of Spa therapy the results of our study have shown a significant (p<0.05) reduction of the pain (1.8±1.6 → 0,9±1,3) and a significant (p<0.01) increase of the knee flexion (79°±22 → 91.3°±19) with an improved quality of life.The data from this investigation seem to indicate that the SPA therapy may be useful in improving joint function and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis
[Effects of drinking SPA therapy on oxidative stress].
No full textData of literature have shown the correlation between oxidative stress and some diseases of gastrointestinal and metabolic relevance such as diabetes mellitus, gastric cancer, gastritis, etc.. Studies have also shown that sulfurous mineral water may be useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of our research was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of sulphurous mineral water, administered by drinking method, in type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease with a high social and economic impact.The study has been performed on 57 subjects (25\% women and 75\% males; mean age: 60 ± 1.1 years; BMI: 27 ± 0.4) affected by type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The subjects were divided in four groups: A (subjected to glucose-lowering diet therapy), B (subjected to antihyperglycaemic therapy), C (exposed to glucose-lowering diet therapy + drinking SPA therapy) and D (exposed to antihyperglycaemic therapy + drinking SPA therapy). Drinking SPA treatment was effected with sulphurous mineral water from Terme of Telese SpA (Benevento - Italy) and the pharmacological treatment provided the use of hypoglycemic drugs normally used in diabetic disease. After two weeks of therapy with treatments considered were evaluated fasting blood glycaemia and plasma concentration of ROMs (reactive oxygen metabolites) (d-ROMs test-Diacron International srl®-Grosseto - Italy).The results of our study have shown a significant (p<0.05) reduction of the fasting blood glycaemia when to hypoglycemic drugs or diet therapy was associated the sulphurous drinking SPA therapy. It was also observed a reduction of plasma ROMs levels, significant (p <0.05) in group D versus group B.The data from this preliminary investigation suggest that the drinking SPA therapy with sulphurous mineral water, especially in combination with antidiabetic drug treatment, may be useful in type 2 diabetes mellitus for the improvement redox state of the organism
Fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP), hemodynamics and heart metabolism: preliminary experimental studies.
No full textFructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) has been reported to exert beneficial effects on several cardiac functions. We studied the effects of FDP on the biochemical and dynamic functions of the heart in anesthetized dogs. Significant effects of FDP were noted mostly as related to pyruvate and lactate metabolism. The results seem to indicate that FDP may improve heart metabolism, and coronary function in restricted animals
Endothelin-1 and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the rabbit.
No full textEndothelins (ETs) are a family of peptide mediators that have a number of biological properties, including the ability to act as potent bronchoconstrictors of isolated human airways. Moreover, elevated concentrations of ET-1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with symptomatic asthma have also been detected. We investigated the possible contribution of ET-1 in the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the role of inflammatory cell accumulation in rabbit lungs. Our data show that ET-1 challenge to rabbits does not modify basal lung function but results in an increased airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine. Endothelin-treated rabbits were 3-fold (P<0.01) more responsive to inhaled histamine when compared with vehicle-treated rabbits. This hyperresponsiveness was not associated with an alteration in either total or differential inflammatory cell numbers as assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Pre-treatment with capsaicin (80 mg/kg s.c.) did not alter basal lung function or basal responsiveness to inhaled histamine. While capsaicin had no significant effect on the acute bronchoconstriction induced by endothelin-1, this dose was sufficient to significantly inhibit the increase in airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine, achieved 24 h following endothelin-1 challenge. These results indicate that ET-1 may play a role in the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to inhaled histamine and that the maintenance of this state is unrelated to a detectable alteration in cellular infiltration within the airway lumen, but probably via the involvement of capsaicin-sensitive nerves
Vasomotor reactivity and catecholamine, arginine vasopressin plasma levels during ageing and development in rats.
No full textVascular reactivity, heart rate responses to vasoconstrictor and/or vasodilatator agents and catecholamine and arginine vasopressin turnover were studied in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), normolipemic Brown Norway (BN) and spontaneously hyperlipemic Yoshida (YOS) anaesthetized rats at 2, 6 and 18 months of age. In this study, we investigated whether ageing and development could affect cardiovascular reactivity to vasoactive substances and catecholamine and arginine vasopressin turnover. No significant changes in the pressor responses to noradrenaline and to carotid sinus baroreceptor stimulation were observed nor were there significant alterations in reflex tachycardia and bradycardia. Arginine vasopressin plasma levels also did not change with ageing and development. On the other hand, the hypotensive responses to isoprenaline decreased in old rats, acetylcholine relaxation effect increased with ageing and development in some rat strains (BN and YOS) and catecholamine plasma levels increased with ageing and development. Our results indicate that during ageing and development, vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictor and/or vasodilatator agents, as well as amine turnover, may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on the neurotransmission system studied, and on the experimental model and/or animal tested
Role of sirtuins, calorie restriction and physical activity in aging.
No full textRecently it has been discovered that Sirtuins represent pivotal regulators of lifespan. Caloric restriction (CR) enhances longevity from yeast to mammals. Whereas the relationship between Sirt-1 and CR is clear, the molecular mechanisms by which Sir2 increases longevity are still unknown. In mammals, CR induces physiological and behavioral changes, and many studies have shown that CR decreases production of reactive oxygen species production thus minimizing oxidative damage, leading to the hypothesis that CR by reducing oxidative stress extends the lifespan by counteraction of aging. In fact, the pathophysiology of aging and age-related diseases involves oxidative stress as an early stage in its development. Recently we found that in aged rats the SIRT1 activity was decreased in heart and adipose tissue, showing as aging is characterized in vivo by a reduced efficiency of this key-regulator of longevity. Whereas several studies have reported that increased physical activity can improve mean life span presumably by reducing mortality risk from many age-related diseases, exercise and longevity studies have failed to document an exercise effect on maximum life span. However, in aged rats a moderate prolonged exercise training is able to induce increase in SIRT1 activity, suggesting that this tool could counteract age-related dysfunctions
Exercise training in aging and diseases.
Full text linkSedentary lifestyle along with high blood pressure, abnormal values for blood lipids, smoking, and obesity are recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and for many other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer. Several studies conducted on large cohort of individuals have documented the protective effects of physical activity for both vascular and nonvascular syndromes. Exercise training is an integral part of cardiac rehabilitation, a complex therapeutic approach, effective both in young and elderly patients. Despite the number of evidences underling the benefits associated with physical fitness, the cardiac rehabilitation is still an underused medical resource. The molecular mechanism behind physical activity protective effect is presently unresolved, and further studies are also needed to establish the best protocol in terms of specificity, volume and duration of the training
Endothelin responses in bovine pulmonary arterial muscle preparations in vitro: modification by potassium ion alterations.
No full textEffects of flunoxaprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on the cardiovascular system.
No full textThe effects of flunoxaprofen (FL) were investigated using anesthetized normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) young and old rats. The animals were divided into two groups. One group received a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent at doses significantly inhibiting prostaglandin (PG)-cyclooxygenase; the other received no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Oral pretreatment of anesthetized rats with flunoxaprofen (6.6, 11.5, and 19.9 mg/kg/day in the feed for 560 days) significantly increased the following responses: occlusion of the common carotid arteries, and reactivity to L-noradrenaline (NA) (i.v.), and angiotensin II (Ang) (i.v.). Pressor responses also increased in normotensive and in SHR rats treated with FL (20 mg/kg/day for seven days). The effects were more intense in the SHR rats. Moreover, oral pretreatment of normotensive rats with FL (20 mg/kg/day for seven days) partially yet significantly reduced the antihypertensive activity of etozolin (ET), a diuretic and antihypertensive drug. Our data confirm the important role of prostaglandins in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, and an increase in arachidonic acid metabolite biosynthesis with vasodilatory effects being part of the mechanism of action of some antihypertensive drugs
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