PMID: 

Immunology. 2018 07 ;154(3):510-521. Epub 2018 Feb 15. PMID: 29377107

Abstract Title: 

Daily very low UV dose exposure enhances adaptive immunity, compared with a single high-dose exposure. Consequences for the control of a skin infection.

Abstract: 

Ultraviolet radiation (UVr) promotes several well-known molecular changes, which may ultimately impact on health. Some of these effects are detrimental, like inflammation, carcinogenesis and immunosuppression. On the other hand, UVr also promotes vitamin D synthesis and other beneficial effects. We recently demonstrated that exposure to very low doses of UVr on four consecutive days [repetitive low UVd (rlUVd)] does not promote an inflammatory state, nor the recruitment of neutrophils or lymphocytes, as the exposure to a single high UV dose (shUVd) does. Moreover, rlUVd reinforce the epithelium by increasing antimicrobial peptides transcription and epidermal thickness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptive immune response after shUVd and rlUVd, determining T-cell and B-cell responses. Finally, we challenged animals exposed to both irradiation procedures with Staphylococcus aureus to study the overall effects of both innate and adaptive immunity during a cutaneous infection. We observed, as expected, a marked suppression of T-cell and B-cell responses after exposure to an shUVd but a novel and significant increase in both specific responses after exposure to rlUVd. However, the control of the cutaneous S. aureus infection was defective in this last group, suggesting that responses against pathogens cannot be ruled out from isolated stimuli.

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PMID: 

Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Mar 31. Epub 2020 Mar 31. PMID: 32228427

Abstract Title: 

Effect of chamomile oil on cesarean section pain in primiparous women: a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Pain after cesarean section can turn the pleasant event of childbirth into an unpleasant experience for the mother. Pain relief through non-pharmaceutical methods, such as aromatherapy, could potentially be a useful intervention. In this study, the analgesic effect of chamomile oil was studied.PURPOSE: The current research was conducted to study the effect of chamomile oil on cesarean section pain in primiparous women.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized double blind clinical trial wherein 128 primiparous pregnant women (who willingly selected cesarean section) took part. In the aromatherapy group, the subjects inhaled one drop of 5% chamomile oil, and in the control group the subjects inhaled one placebo drop. In both groups the subjects inhaled for 15-20 minutes at a distance of 5 cm from the nose at 4, 8, and 12 hours after surgery, and pain intensity was measured before and after half an hour after inhalation using the visual analog scale (VAS). For data analysis, the software SPSS (version 25) and descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were used. In order to determine the significance, inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, independent t-test, and Chi-square) were used.FINDINGS: Data indicated that the intervention and placebo groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables. The average weights and heights of women in the intervention group were 86/5± 5/9 and 163/7 ±5/1, respectively. Corresponding values women in the control group were 84/5± 5/7 kg and 163/4± 5/8 cm. The finding of the current research indicates that the intervention and placebo groups showed no significant statistical difference in terms of baseline pain before intervention (p=0.08), while the difference between the two groups was significant in terms of pain 4, 8, and 12 hours after intervention (p

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PMID: 

J Endocrinol Invest. 2015 Feb ;38(2):163-70. Epub 2014 Sep 7. PMID: 25194428

Abstract Title: 

Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: 

AIMS: This study aimed at assessing the effects of chamomile tea consumption on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 individuals with T2DM (males and females) aged between 30 and 60 years. The intervention group (n = 32) consumed chamomile tea (3 g/150 mL hot water) three times per day immediately after meals for 8 weeks. The control group (n = 32) followed a water regimen for the same intervention period. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and 3-day, 24-h dietary recalls were collected at the baseline and at the end of the trial. Data were analyzed by independent t test, paired t test, Pearson correlation test, and analysis of covariance.RESULTS: Chamomile tea significantly decreased concentration of HbA1C (p = 0.03), serum insulin levels (p

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PMID: 

Mult Scler. 2019 07 ;25(8):1162-1169. Epub 2018 Jun 22. PMID: 29932357

Abstract Title: 

Lifetime exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the risk of multiple sclerosis in the US radiologic technologists cohort study.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Low exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight may be a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Possible pathways may be related to effects on immune system function or vitamin D insufficiency, as UVR plays a role in the production of the active form of vitamin D in the body.OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether lower levels of residential UVR exposure from sunlight were associated with increased MS risk in a cohort of radiologic technologists.METHODS: Participants in the third and fourth surveys of the US Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Cohort Study eligible ( = 39,801) for analysis provided complete residential histories and reported MS diagnoses. MS-specialized neurologists conducted medical record reviews and confirmed 148 cases. Residential locations throughout life were matched to satellite data from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) project to estimate UVR dose.RESULTS: Findings indicate that MS risk increased as average lifetime levels of UVR exposures in winter decreased. The effects were consistent across age groups

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PMID: 

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2016 Apr ;15(2):165-72. PMID: 27020633

Abstract Title: 

Beneficial effect of refined red palm oil on lipid peroxidation and monocyte tissue factor in HCV-related liver disease: a randomized controlled study.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: A large amount of endotoxin can be detected in the peripheral venous blood of patients with liver cirrhosis, contributing to the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity because of its role in oxidative stress. The present study aimed to test the effect of the supplementation with red palm oil (RPO), which is a natural oil obtained from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) rich in natural fat-soluble tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenoids, on lipid peroxidation and endotoxemia with plasma endotoxin-inactivating capacity, proinflammatory cytokines profile, and monocyte tissue factor in patients with chronic liver disease.METHODS: The study group consisted of sixty patients (34 males and 26 females; mean age 62 years, range 54-75) with Child A/B, genotype 1 HCV-related cirrhosis without a history of ethanol consumption, randomly enrolled into an 8-week oral daily treatment with either vitamin E or RPO. All patients had undergone an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy 8 months before, and 13 out of them showed esophageal varices.RESULTS: Both treatments significantly decreased erythrocyte malondialdehyde and urinary isoprostane output, only RPO significantly affected macrophage-colony stimulating factor and monocyte tissue factor. Liver ultrasound imaging did not show any change.CONCLUSIONS: RPO beneficially modulates oxidative stress and, not least, downregulates macrophage/monocyte inflammatory parameters. RPO can be safely advised as a valuable nutritional implementation tool in the management of chronic liver diseases.

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PMID: 

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 03 ;143(3):1012-1020.e2. Epub 2018 Oct 23. PMID: 30366577

Abstract Title: 

Direct infant UV light exposure is associated with eczema and immune development.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal vitamin D levels during critical periods of immune development have emerged as an explanation for higher rates of allergic diseases associated with industrialization and residing at higher latitudes.OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effects of early postnatal vitamin D supplementation on infant eczema and immune development.METHODS: By using a double-blind randomized controlled trial, newborn infants were randomized to receive vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/d) or a placebo until 6 months of age. Some infants also wore personal UV dosimeters to measure direct UV light (290-380 nm) exposure. Infant vitamin D levels were measured at 3 and 6 months of age. Eczema, wheeze, and immune function outcomes were assessed at 6 months of age.RESULTS: At 3 (P 

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PMID: 

J Immunol. 2018 12 15 ;201(12):3587-3603. Epub 2018 Nov 12. PMID: 30420435

Abstract Title: 

Brief Exposure of Skin to Near-Infrared Laser Modulates Mast Cell Function and Augments the Immune Response.

Abstract: 

The treatment of skin with a low-power continuous-wave (CW) near-infrared (NIR) laser prior to vaccination is an emerging strategy to augment the immune response to intradermal vaccine, potentially substituting for chemical adjuvant, which has been linked to adverse effects of vaccines. This approach proved to be low cost, simple, small, and readily translatable compared with the previously explored pulsed-wave medical lasers. However, little is known on the mode of laser-tissue interaction eliciting the adjuvant effect. In this study, we sought to identify the pathways leading to the immunological events by examining the alteration of responses resulting from genetic ablation of innate subsets including mast cells and specific dendritic cell populations in an established model of intradermal vaccination and analyzing functional changes of skin microcirculation upon the CW NIR laser treatment in mice. We found that a CW NIR laser transiently stimulates mast cells via generation of reactive oxygen species, establishes an immunostimulatory milieu in the exposed tissue, and provides migration cues for dermal CD103dendritic cells without inducing prolonged inflammation, ultimately augmenting the adaptive immune response. These results indicate that use of an NIR laser with distinct wavelength and power is a safe and effective tool to reproducibly modulate innate programs in skin. These mechanistic findings would accelerate the clinical translation of this technology and warrant further explorations into the broader application of NIR lasers to the treatment of immune-related skin diseases.

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PMID: 

Osteoporos Int. 2018 04 ;29(4):881-891. Epub 2018 Jan 12. PMID: 29330573

Abstract Title: 

Tocotrienol supplementation suppressed bone resorption and oxidative stress in postmenopausal osteopenic women: a 12-week randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract: 

: Tocotrienols have shown bone-protective effect in animals. This study showed that a 12-week tocotrienol supplementation decreased concentrations of bone resorption biomarker and bone remodeling regulators via suppressing oxidative stress in postmenopausal osteopenic women.INTRODUCTION: Tocotrienols (TT) have been shown to benefit bone health in ovariectomized animals, a model of postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12-week TT supplementation on bone markers (serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), urine N-terminal telopeptide (NTX), serum soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (sRANKL), and serum osteoprotegerin (OPG)), urine calcium, and an oxidative stress biomarker (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)) in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.METHODS: Eighty-nine postmenopausal osteopenic women (59.7 ± 6.8 year, BMI 28.7 ± 5.7 kg/m) were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) placebo (430 mg olive oil/day), (2) low TT (430 mg TT/day, 70% purity), and (3) high TT (860 mg TT/day, 70% purity). TT, an extract from annatto seed with 70% purity, consisted of 90% delta-TT and 10% gamma-TT. Overnight fasting blood and urine samples were collected at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks for biomarker analyses. Eighty-seven subjects completed the 12-week study.RESULTS: Relative to the placebo group, there were marginal decreases in serum BALP level in the TT-supplemented groups over the 12-week study period. Significant decreases in urine NTX levels, serum sRANKL, sRANKL/OPG ratio, and urine 8-OHdG concentrations and a significant increase in BALP/NTX ratio due to TT supplementation were observed. TT supplementation did not affect serum OPG concentrations or urine calcium levels throughout the study period. There were no significant differences in NTX level, BALP/NTX ratio, sRANKL level, and sRANKL/OPG ratio between low TT and high TT groups.CONCLUSIONS: Twelve-week annatto-extracted TT supplementation decreased bone resorption and improved bone turnover rate via suppressing bone remodeling regulators in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Such osteoprotective TT's effects may be, in part, mediated by an inhibition of oxidative stress.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02058420.TITLE: Tocotrienols and bone health of postmenopausal women.

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PMID: 

Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2017 10 ;21:1-12. Epub 2017 Jul 29. PMID: 30014863

Abstract Title: 

Comparing palm oil tocotrienol rich fraction withα-tocopherol supplementation on oxidative stress in healthy older adults.

Abstract: 

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble compound and powerful antioxidant that have been shown to protect the cell membranes against damage caused by free radicals. Human vitamin E supplementation studies are usually limited toα-tocopherol but currently tocotrienols are also available. This study aims to compare the effects of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) with α-tocopherol (α-TF) supplementation on oxidative stress in healthy male and female older adults aged 50-55 years old. A total of 71 subjects both male and female aged between 50 and 55 years were divided into groups receiving placebo (n = 23), α-TF (n = 24) and TRF (n = 24) for six months. Blood was taken at baseline (month 0), 3 months and 6 months osf supplementation for determination of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, total DNAdamage, vitamin D concentration and vitamin E isomers. α-TF supplementation reduced plasma MDA and protein carbonyl in female subjects after 3 and 6 months. TRF supplementation reduced MDA levels in both males and females as early as 3 months while DNA damage was reduced in females only at 6 months. Supplementation with α-TF and TRF increased plasma vitamin D concentration in both males and females after 6 months, but vitamin D concentration in male subjects were significantly higher compared to female subjects in TRF group. Vitamin E isomer determination showed α-TF, α-tocotrienol and γ-tocotrienol were increased in both male and female subjects. In conclusion, TRF supplementation effects were different from α-TF in reducing oxidative stress markers and vitamin D levels with a more pronounced effect in female subjects.

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PMID: 

J Photochem Photobiol B. 2019 Sep ;198:111560. Epub 2019 Jul 16. PMID: 31336216

Abstract Title: 

Enhanced early immune response of leptospiral outer membrane protein LipL32 stimulated by narrow band mid-infrared exposure.

Abstract: 

Previous studies revealed significant impact on cancer cell by mid-infrared (MIR) radiation. However, the effects of narrow band MIR on immune reaction and infectious disease are still unknown. In this study, an enhanced innate immune response was observed through the interaction between Leptospiral outer membrane protein (LipL32) and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Thereafter, human kidney proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells) initiated a serial reaction of enhanced MCP-1 production. The 6 μm narrow bandwidth light source emitted by waveguide thermal emitter (WTE) was applied to induce carbonyl group (CO bond) stretching vibration during the stage of antigen-receptor complex formation. The amount of MCP-1 gene expression had 2.5 folds increase after narrow band MIR illumination comparing to non-MIR illumination at low dose LipL32 condition. Besides, both ELISA and confocal microscopy results also revealed that the chemokine concentration increased significantly after narrow band MIR illumination either at low or high concentration of LipL32. Furthermore, a specific phenomenon that narrow band MIR can amplify the signal of weak immune response by enhancing sensitivity of the interaction between antigen and receptor was observed. This study exhibits clear evidence that the narrow band MIR exposure can modulate the early immune response of infectious disease and play a potential role to develop host-directed therapy in the future.

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