24 research outputs found
Antioxidant intervention in rheumatoid arthritis: results of an open pilot study
There is evidence that reactive oxygen species play a causal role in auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite the supporting evidence for a beneficial effect of antioxidants on clinical characteristics of RA, the right balance for optimal effectiveness of antioxidants is largely unknown. To determine the potential beneficial effects of an antioxidant intervention on clinical parameters for RA, an open pilot study was designed. Eight non-smoking female patients with rheumatoid factor + RA and a Disease Activity Score (DAS 28) higher than 2.5 were enrolled in the study. Patients had to be receiving stable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment and/or âsecond lineâ medication for at least 3Â months. The pilot group consumed 20Â g of antioxidant-enriched spread daily during a period of 10Â weeks. The intervention was stopped after 10Â weeks and was followed by a âwash-outâ period of 4Â weeks. At tâ=â0, tâ=â10Â weeks and tâ=â14Â weeks, patientsâ condition was assessed by means of DAS. In addition, standard laboratory analyses were performed, and blood-samples for antioxidants were taken. The antioxidant-enriched spread was well tolerated. All laboratory measures of inflammatory activity and oxidative modification were generally unchanged. However, the number of swollen and painful joints were significantly decreased and general health significantly increased, as reflected by a significantly improved (1.6) DAS at tâ=â10Â weeks. The antioxidant effect was considered beneficial as, compared to the scores at tâ=â0, the DAS significantly reduced at tâ=â10Â weeks. Increase of the DAS (0.7) after the âwash-out periodâ at tâ=â14 confirmed a causal relation between changes in clinical condition and antioxidants. This open pilot study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of an antioxidant intervention as a first step in assessing potential beneficial effects of antioxidants on rheumatoid arthritis. These conclusions need to be validated in a larger controlled study population
Genetic variants linked to education predict longevity
Educational attainment is associated with many health outcomes, including longevity. It is also known to be substantially heritable. Here, we used data from three large genetic epidemiology cohort studies (Generation Scotland, n = âŒ17,000; UK Biobank, n = âŒ115,000; and the Estonian Biobank, n = âŒ6,000) to test whether education-linked genetic variants can predict lifespan length. We did so by using cohort membersâ polygenic profile score for education to predict their parentsâ longevity. Across the three cohorts, meta-analysis showed that a 1 SD higher polygenic education score was associated with âŒ2.7% lower mortality risk for both mothers (total ndeaths = 79,702) and âŒ2.4% lower risk for fathers (total ndeaths = 97,630). On average, the parents of offspring in the upper third of the polygenic score distribution lived 0.55 y longer compared with those of offspring in the lower third. Overall, these results indicate that the genetic contributions to educational attainment are useful in the prediction of human longevity.</p
Morphology control of poly(vinylidene fluoride) thin film made with electrospray
Thin polymer films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) were prepared with electrospray. Effects of solvent, initial spray concentration temperature solution conductivity and polymer size on the film morphology were studied with AFM. The two main factors controlling polymer film morphology are the droplet size of the spray and the viscosity of the Solution at deposition. These factors determine the flow of the polymer-solvent mixture over the substrate. the density of the film. and its smoothness. The solvent is a key parameter of the entire process. It affects spray stability, polymer solubility. droplet size of the spray, and viscosity of the Solution at deposition. Solvents with a low vapor pressure provide a wider window for optimization of other parameters and are therefore preferred over solvents with high vapor pressure. The viscosity at deposition is mainly controlled with the initial spray concentration. polymer size, temperature, and droplet size. The droplet size is best controlled by the conductivity of the Solution and the flow rate of the spray
Electrospray deposition, model, and experiment: Toward general control of film morphology
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) film formation with electrospray deposition has been studied with support of a droplet evaporation model. The input parameters of the model consist basically of the solvent, the solute concentration, the flow rate, and the solution conductivity. The model provides the droplet size, the solute concentration, the droplet velocity, and the shear stress of the droplet at impact as a function of the distance between the nozzle and the substrate. With some additional experimental information such as the size change of the film with spray distance and the viscosity of the solution, the growth rate of the film and the shear rate of the droplet at impact can be determined. Growth rate is shown to define distinct regimes of film formation. In those regimes, only a single factor or a limited number of factors controls the film morphology. The most important factors include the shear rate and the surface energy. It is found that at a specific range of growth rates only the shear rate determines the morphology of the polymer film. Growth rate, as the defining quantity of film morphology, is not limited to polymer solutions. Therefore, the growth rate, in combination with the control factors mentioned above, functions as a general framework through which understanding and control of film formation with electrospray deposition can be improved