19 research outputs found
Oral tolerance inhibits pulmonary eosinophilia in a cockroach allergen induced model of asthma: a randomized laboratory study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antigen desensitization through oral tolerance is becoming an increasingly attractive treatment option for allergic diseases. However, the mechanism(s) by which tolerization is achieved remain poorly defined. In this study we endeavored to induce oral tolerance to cockroach allergen (CRA: a complex mixture of insect components) in order to ameliorate asthma-like, allergic pulmonary inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared the pulmonary inflammation of mice which had received four CRA feedings prior to intratracheal allergen sensitization and challenge to mice fed PBS on the same time course. Respiratory parameters were assessed by whole body unrestrained plethysmography and mechanical ventilation with forced oscillation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and lung homogenate (LH) were assessed for cytokines and chemokines by ELISA. BAL inflammatory cells were also collected and examined by light microscopy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CRA feeding prior to allergen sensitization and challenge led to a significant improvement in respiratory health. Airways hyperreactivity measured indirectly via enhanced pause (Penh) was meaningfully reduced in the CRA-fed mice compared to the PBS fed mice (2.3 ± 0.4 vs 3.9 ± 0.6; p = 0.03). Directly measured airways resistance confirmed this trend when comparing the CRA-fed to the PBS-fed animals (2.97 ± 0.98 vs 4.95 ± 1.41). This effect was not due to reduced traditional inflammatory cell chemotactic factors, Th2 or other cytokines and chemokines. The mechanism of improved respiratory health in the tolerized mice was due to significantly reduced eosinophil numbers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (43300 ± 11445 vs 158786 ± 38908; p = 0.007) and eosinophil specific peroxidase activity in the lung homogenate (0.59 ± 0.13 vs 1.19 ± 0.19; p = 0.017). The decreased eosinophilia was likely the result of increased IL-10 in the lung homogenate of the tolerized mice (6320 ± 354 ng/mL vs 5190 ± 404 ng/mL, p = 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show that oral tolerization to CRA can improve the respiratory health of experimental mice in a CRA-induced model of asthma-like pulmonary inflammation by reducing pulmonary eosinophilia.</p
Burnout in nurses working in Portuguese palliative care teams: a mixed methods study
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Modification of bacteraemia by specific antibodies and relation with mortality in a pneumococcal mouse sepsis model
From palliative care to supportive care: how did the Focus Group on Support and Palliative Care in Haematology (GRASPH) evolve to become the Focus Group on General Support and Supportive Care in Haematology and Oncology (GRASSPHO)
Can Addressing Death Anxiety Reduce Health Care Workers’ Burnout and Improve Patient Care?
Defence Mechanisms and Coping Strategies among Caregivers in Palliative Care Units
This article focuses on the relationship
between defence mechanisms, coping strategies,
palliative attitude, and the well-being of caregivers in
palliative care units, who are confronted with death,
suffering, and pain. They use many different defence
mechanisms; however, studies linking their coping
strategies and defence mechanisms are rare. This
study uses a quantitative and qualitative design and is
based on 18 caregivers (nurses) in 2 palliative care
units in Belgium. Defence mechanisms are tested
through a semi-structured interview, TAT, and DSQ-60.
Coping strategies are evaluated through a semistructured
interview, COPE, and WCQ. To maximize
our global approach, coping strategies and defence
mechanisms are associated with measures of wellbeing
and palliative attitude. We determined that
defence mechanisms and coping strategies should not
be seen as obstacles to professional practices.
Palliative caregivers are more likely to adopt “mature”
and “mental inhibition and compromise formation”
defence mechanisms, as well as “emotion-focused”
and “problem-focused” coping strategies. Defence
mechanisms are more unconscious and constitute
appropriate answers in extreme emotional situations.
Coping strategies allow for more conscious processes
of adaptation to the environment of palliative care units.
This study shows positive relationships between different
defence mechanisms and coping strategies, palliative
attitudes, and caregivers’ well-being. Institutions
should improve the conditions for group exchange and
for caregivers’ individual introspection so that caregivers
develop adapted capacities to cope with anxiety