Petiveria alliacea Suppresses Airway Inflammation and Allergen-Specific Th2 Responses in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Murine Model of Asthma

Objective: To examine the effect of metanol extract of Petiveria alliacea(PM) on airway inflammation in a murine model of chronic asthma. Methods: Two-month-old male BALB/c mice(n=6–8/group) were sensitized on days 0 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg ovalbumin(OVA). On day 25, the mice received an airway challenge with OVA(3%, w/v, in phosphate buffered saline). PM was administered orally by oral gavage to mice at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight once daily from days 18 to 23. Control mice were orally administered phosphate buffered saline(PBS) to induce a model of asthma. At the end of the test, respiratory reactivity was assayed, the total cell number, interleukin-4(IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were determined and the levels of serum IgE, intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) and eotoxin were measured. In addition, lung tissue was used to qualify the IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1). Histologic examination was performed to observe inflammatory cellular infiltration. Results: The administration of PM in comparison with the OVA-only treated group significantly attenuated the infiltration of eosinophils and other inflammatory cells(P0.01). Airway resistance(RI) in the OVA-only induced group was significantly higher than that of the PBS control group(P0.01) when methacholine was added. TNF-α, IgE, TGF-β1 and cytokine levels IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the BALF decreased compared to control mice(P0.01 or P0.05). PM treatment also inhibited the production of chemokines, eotaxin and ICAM-1 in BALF(P0.01), which improved lung function. Histopathological examination revealed that the sensitized treated PM groups had significant lower in inflammatory scores similar to dexamethasone treatments and the untreated group. Conclusion: Administration of PM could inhibit airway inflammation, regulate cytokines, chemokines and enhance pulmonary conditions in allergic murine model of asthma.     

Induction of Apoptosis after Stent Implantation in Canine Portal Vein

The purpose of this study was to analyze apoptosis in the vessel wall after stent implantation in the canine portal vein and also to investigate the expression of the p21 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, which may regulate cellular proliferation after vascular injury. Uninjured, control veins had few detectable TUNEL-positive cells in the intima and media (0.829 ± 0.413%). At 4 weeks after stent implantation, TUNEL-positive cells significantly increased to 50.5 ± 4.639%. These cells were predominantly located around the stent struts, and appeared to be smooth muscle cells morphologically. At 12 weeks, 44.7 ± 6.178% of the intimal and medial cells were still TUNEL positive, and there was no significant difference between 4 and 12 weeks. P21 was not detected in uninjured, normal veins. At 4 and 12 weeks after stent implantation, positive p21 immunostaining was sparsely expressed in the intima and media adjacent to the stent struts. Thus, stent implantation induced a prolonged apoptotic response and increased expression of p21 in the portal venous system. This prolonged apoptotic response, possibly regulated by p21, may have a significant role in modulating the cellularity of intimal formation.     

Disparities for latino children in the timely receipt of medical care.

OBJECTIVE: It is not known whether Latino children, the largest minority population in the United States, experience disparities in the timeliness of their access to health care. We compared timeliness of care among Latino, white, and African American children. METHODS: DESIGN: cross-sectional cohort from the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. PATIENTS: children with a usual source of care. Outcome measure: timeliness of care was assessed using parent reports of their child's 1) routine care, 2) illness care, 3) phone help, and 4) experiencing of a brief wait time. Analysis: multiple logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds of not always receiving timely medical care. RESULTS: Four-thousand one-hundred twenty children were included. Latino children were less likely to always (P < .05) receive timely care compared with whites and African Americans, respectively, in 3 areas: routine care, phone help, and brief wait time. Multiple regression revealed decreased relative risks (RR, 95% CI) of always receiving timely medical care for Latinos in the same areas: routine care, compared with whites (0.88, 0.79-0.98) and African Americans (0.81, 0.70-0.93); phone help, compared with whites (0.84, 0.76-0.92) and African Americans (0.86, 0.76-0.960); and brief wait time, compared with whites (0.71, 0.65-0.80) and African Americans (0.81, 0.70-0.92). With parental survey language in the model, Latinos experienced decreased timeliness of care for routine care compared with African Americans (0.85, 0.72-0.98); phone help compared with whites (0.87, 0.77-0.96); and brief wait times compared with whites (0.79, 0.71-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Latino children experience marked disparities in obtaining timely medical care, only some of which is associated with language differences.     

How Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program can do a better job of insuring uninsured children: the perspectives of parents of uninsured Latino children.

BACKGROUND: Eight and a half million US children are uninsured, despite the 1997 enactment of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with $39 billion in funding, and Latinos continue to be the most uninsured racial/ ethnic group, with 24% (3 million) uninsured. Why SCHIP and Medicaid have not been more successful insuring uninsured children is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To identify reasons why parents are unable to insure uninsured Latino children in a state where all low-income children are eligible for insurance. METHODS: Bilingual focus groups of parents of uninsured Latino children from Boston communities with the highest proportion of uninsured Latino children. RESULTS: The 30 parents interviewed in 6 focus groups had a mean age of 39 years; 63% never graduated high school and 33% were US citizens. The mean age of their children was 12 years, and the median annual family income was $9120. Parents reported 52 barriers to insuring children. Major obstacles included lack of knowledge about the application process and eligibility (especially misconceptions about work, welfare, and immigration), language barriers, immigration issues, income, hassles, pending decisions, family mobility, misinformation from insurance representatives (being told insurance is too expensive and parents must work), and system problems (including lost applications, discrimination, and excessive waits). Parents universally agreed case managers would be helpful in insuring uninsured children. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a state where all low-income children are eligible for health insurance, current SCHIP and Medicaid outreach and enrollment are not effectively reaching uninsured Latino children. Parents need better information about programs, eligibility, and the application process, and a more efficient, user-friendly system.     

Patterns and Predictors of First-Line Taxane Use in Patients with Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in US Clinical Practice

We investigated first-line (1L) treatment patterns and predictors of taxane use to better understand the evolving metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) treatment landscape. This retrospective analysis of the Truven Health MarketScan^® (Somers, NY, USA) Database included women with mTNBC who received 1L therapy within six months of diagnosis (January 2005–June 2015). Multivariate logistic regression models identified predictors of taxane use, adjusting for prognostic factors. A total of 2271 women with newly diagnosed mTNBC received 1L treatment during the study period. Half received a 1L taxane (53%), more often in combination than as monotherapy (58% versus 42%), though this varied by specific taxane. Nab-Paclitaxel monotherapy increased substantially after 2010. More recent treatment year (odds ratio, 2.16 (95% CI 1.69–2.76]) and number of metastases (≥3 versus 1: 1.73 (1.25–2.40)) predicted taxane monotherapy versus combination. Having a health maintenance organization versus a preferred provider organization plan predicted less nab-paclitaxel versus paclitaxel (0.32 (0.13–0.80)) or docetaxel (0.30 (0.10–0.89)) use. More recent index year (2011–2015 vs. 2005–2010) was the only predictor favoring nab-paclitaxel versus paclitaxel (2.01 (1.26–3.21)) or docetaxel (3.63 (2.11–6.26)). Taxane-containing regimens remained the most common 1L mTNBC treatments. Paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel use changed substantially over time, with nab-paclitaxel use associated with insurance coverage.     

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the lysyl oxidase-like protein 4 and complement component 3 genes are associated with increased risk for endometriosis and endometriosis-associated infertility

This study was conducted to assess genetic associations with endometriosis in a Puerto Rican population. Statistically significant differences in the allelic frequencies and genotype distribution of genetic variants in lysyl oxidase-like protein 4 (LOXL4) and complement component 3 (C3) were documented in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility versus controls, and in patients with endometriosis versus controls, respectively. In women who have the risk genotype at both single-nucleotide polymorphisms, the estimated risk for endometriosis nearly doubled.     

Latinos report less use of pharmaceutical aids when trying to quit smoking

BACKGROUND: Latino smokers are more likely than white non-Latino smokers to attempt cessation, but less likely to receive cessation advice from physicians or to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Proposed underlying causes have included lighter smoking, lower financial status, and less healthcare access. This study assessed these factors as possible explanations for disparate rates of smoking-cessation support. METHODS: Data were analyzed from a random, population-level telephone survey of Colorado adults that interviewed 10,945 white non-Latino respondents and 1004 Latino respondents. For the current analysis, main outcome measures were receipt of physician advice to quit smoking, use of NRT, and use of bupropion or other anti-depressant for smoking cessation. RESULTS: Latino smokers reported higher prevalence of quit attempts (71.5% v 61.6%, p <0.01) but less physician advice to quit smoking (46.4% v 56.2%, p <0.05) and less use of NRT or an anti-depressant for cessation (10.6% v 24.8%, p <0.0001). Adjusted for potentially confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for less Latino use of cessation medications was substantial and significant (full model OR=0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.17 to 0.57). The adjusted OR for physician cessation advice was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Population-level differences in health status, smoking level, financial status, or healthcare access do not explain why Latino smokers less often use proven pharmaceutical aids to increase cessation. Further research is needed to understand these disparities, and greater effort is needed to deliver cessation support to Latino smokers seeking to quit.