TNFα Induces Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell Barrier Alterations by Apoptotic and Nonapoptotic Mechanisms

The choroid plexus epithelium constitutes the structural basis of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Since the cytokine TNFα is markedly increased during inflammatory diseases in the blood and the central nervous system, we investigated by which mechanisms TNFα induces barrier alteration in porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells. We found a dose-dependent decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance, increase of paracellular inulin-flux, and induction of histone-associated DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation after TNFα stimulation. This response was strongly aggravated by the addition of cycloheximide and could partially be inhibited by the NF-κB inhibitor CAPE, but most effectively by the pan-caspase-inhibitor zVAD-fmk and not by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. Partial loss of cell viability could also be attenuated by CAPE. Immunostaining showed cell condensation and nuclear binding of high-mobility group box 1 protein as a sign of apoptosis after TNFα stimulation. Taken together our findings indicate that TNFα compromises PCPEC barrier function by caspase and NF-κB dependent mechanisms

Information sources influencing urban Mexican-American women\u27s cancer screening participation

Breast and cervical cancer, though less common in Mexican-American than in Anglo women, are more likely to go undetected in Mexican-American women, leaving them more vulnerable to advanced disease and death. Although highly effective screening tests--the Pap smear and the mammogram--can detect these cancers early, many Mexican-American women do not regularly undergo these preventive screening tests. To explore the differential influence of encouraging sources of health information, this investigation examined the relationship between encouragement from a peer --husband or partner, child or children, other family members, or close friends--and a health professional --a doctor, a nurse, or another health professional--on Mexican-American women\u27s cancer screening intentions and behaviors. Furthermore, this research explored whether the sources\u27 influence on cancer screening intentions and behaviors differed depending on level of acculturation. One thousand seven hundred eleven surveys of Mexican-American women were analyzed to identify the source that most effectively encourages these women to participate in cancer screening. The data provided evidence that health professionals strongly influenced this population\u27s cancer screening intentions and behaviors. Evidence for peer influence was also found; however, it was usually weaker, and, in some cases, negligible. Peer encouragement was related to Pap test behaviors and mammogram intentions, but not to Pap test intentions or mammogram behaviors. Consistently, women reported greater intentions and screening behaviors when encouraged from a health professional than from a peer. Acculturation was not found to be a modifying variable related to the relationship between sources of information and Pap test or mammogram intentions and behaviors. Because health professionals were identified as strongly influencing both intentions and behaviors for Pap tests and mammograms, further efforts should be undertaken to urge them to encourage their clients to obtain cancer screening. Failure to provide this encouragement leads to missed opportunities. Enlisting support from peers also may help to increase cancer screening participation in urban Mexican-American women; however, the consistently greater intentions and behaviors related to a health professional\u27s encouragement indicated the greater power of the latter

Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 1: Einstellungs- und Verhaltensänderung

Finne E, Gohres H, Seibt AC. Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 1: Einstellungs- und Verhaltensänderung. In: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA), ed. Leitbegriffe der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention. Glossar zu Konzepten, Strategien und Methoden. Köln: BZgA; 2021

Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 3: Persuasion, Diffusion, Marketing und Medienanwaltschaft

Reifegerste D, Franzkowiak P, Seibt AC. Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 3: Persuasion, Diffusion, Marketing und Medienanwaltschaft. In: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA), ed. Leitbegriffe der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention. Glossar zu Konzepten, Strategien und Methoden. Köln: BZgA; 2021.In diesem Leitbegriff werden vier Modelle vorgestellt, die vorrangig für die kommunikative Umsetzung von Interventionen und Kampagnen von Bedeutung sind. Sie entstammen der Psychologie, der Soziologie, der Werbeforschung sowie der Kommunikationswissenschaft und Betriebswirtschaft. Im Gegensatz zu den Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodellen I und II sind die hier vorgestellten Modelle weniger individuumsbezogen und berücksichtigen stärker das soziale Umfeld und die strukturellen Rahmenbedingungen der Zielgruppen. Ausgehend von den zentralen Einflussfaktoren und den Mechanismen, werden Konsequenzen für die Gesundheitsprogramme formuliert

Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 2: Theoriebasierte Interventionsplanung

Gohres H, Finne E, Seibt AC. Erklärungs- und Veränderungsmodelle 2: Theoriebasierte Interventionsplanung. In: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA), ed. Leitbegriffe der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention. Glossar zu Konzepten, Strategien und Methoden. Köln: BZgA; 2021

Tissue-Specific Strategies of the Very-Long Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase-Deficient (VLCAD^−/−) Mouse to Compensate a Defective Fatty Acid β-Oxidation

<div><p>Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD)-deficiency is the most common long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder presenting with heterogeneous phenotypes. Similar to many patients with VLCADD, VLCAD-deficient mice (VLCAD^−/−) remain asymptomatic over a long period of time. In order to identify the involved compensatory mechanisms, wild-type and VLCAD^−/− mice were fed one year either with a normal diet or with a diet in which medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) replaced long-chain triglycerides, as approved intervention in VLCADD. The expression of the mitochondrial long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) was quantified at mRNA and protein level in heart, liver and skeletal muscle. The oxidation capacity of the different tissues was measured by LC-MS/MS using acyl-CoA substrates with a chain length of 8 to 20 carbons. Moreover, in white skeletal muscle the role of glycolysis and concomitant muscle fibre adaptation was investigated. In one year old VLCAD^−/− mice MCAD and LCAD play an important role in order to compensate deficiency of VLCAD especially in the heart and in the liver. However, the white gastrocnemius muscle develops alternative compensatory mechanism based on a different substrate selection and increased glucose oxidation. Finally, the application of an MCT diet over one year has no effects on LCAD or MCAD expression. MCT results in the VLCAD^−/− mice only in a very modest improvement of medium-chain acyl-CoA oxidation capacity restricted to cardiac tissue. In conclusion, VLCAD^−/− mice develop tissue-specific strategies to compensate deficiency of VLCAD either by induction of other mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenases or by enhancement of glucose oxidation. In the muscle, there is evidence of a muscle fibre type adaptation with a predominance of glycolytic muscle fibres. Dietary modification as represented by an MCT-diet does not improve these strategies long-term.</p> </div