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Probiotic NVP-1703 Alleviates Allergic Rhinitis by Inducing IL-10 Expression: A Four-week Clinical Trial
Although several recent studies reported that probiotics might be beneficial for allergic rhinitis (AR), the effect of probiotics on AR is not consistent and have not been reproduced between studies. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of probiotic NVP-1703, a mixture of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum, in subjects with perennial AR. Adult subjects with perennial AR received either NVP-1703 (n = 47) or placebo (n = 48) for four weeks. Total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), rhinitis control assessment test (RCAT), blood eosinophil count, allergen-specific IgE, and immunological parameters in serum and urine were compared at baseline and after four weeks. TNSS changes from baseline at weeks 1, 3, and 4 were significant between the NVP-1703 and placebo groups (p = 0.033, 0.031, and 0.029, respectively). RCAT score showed significant differences between the NVP-1703 and placebo groups (p = 0.049) at week 4. Dermatophagoides farinae-specific IgE levels and serum IL-10 levels were significantly different between the NVP-1703 and placebo groups (p = 0.033 and p = 0.047, respectively). IL-10/IL-4 and IL-10/IL-13 ratios were different between the NVP-1703 and placebo groups at week 4 (p = 0.046 and 0.018, respectively). NVP-1703 treatment reduced urinary prostaglandin F2α and leukotriene E4 levels (p > 0.05). Therefore, NVP-1703 can be treatment option for perennial AR.
Journal Article
Immune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Background/Objectives:
Probiotics are defined as ‘living micro-organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host’. Different probiotic strains have been investigated for beneficial effects on allergic disorders. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of orally administering the probiotic Nestlé culture collection (NCC)2818
Bifidobacterium lactis
strain on immune parameters and nasal symptom scores in subjects suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
Subjects/Methods:
The study was a double-blinded, parallel, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted during the peak of the pollen season. Adult subjects with clinical history of SAR and positive skin prick test to grass pollen were recruited. The subjects received
B. lactis
NCC2818 or placebo for 8 weeks and completed symptom questionnaires every week. Whole blood was collected at baseline (V1), 4 weeks (V2) and 8 weeks (V3) to measure immune parameters.
Results:
Concentrations of Th-2 cytokines, secreted by stimulated blood lymphocytes, were significantly lower in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group at V3 (interleukin (IL)-5,
P
=0.016; IL-13,
P
=0.005). Total nasal symptom scores were significantly lower in the second month of the study (weeks 5–8) in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group (
P
=0.03). Also, percentages of activated CD63 expressing basophils were significantly lower in the probiotic group at V2 (
P
=0.02).
Conclusions:
Oral administration of the probiotic NCC2818 mitigates immune parameters and allergic symptoms during seasonal exposure. These promising results warrant that
B. lactis
NCC2818 be investigated further in large-scale trials for management of respiratory allergy.
Journal Article
Taxonomic Reinstatement of the Endemic Chinese Species IIris thoroldii/I from II. potaninii/I and Reassessment of II. zhaoana/I
Iris thoroldii is a perennial herbaceous plant with yellow, blue, or purple flowers. The species is native to the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas. In the literature and databases, I. thoroldii has long been treated in synonymy with I. potaninii. Currently, yellow-flowered plants of I. thoroldii are considered I. potanii, and blue-flowered plants are considered I. zhaoana, a replacement name for I. potaninii var. ionantha. This study aimed to clarify the taxonomic identity of I. thoroldii. A critical examination of original material, herbarium specimens, images of living plants, and the literature has shown I. thoroldii to be different from I. potaninii in some previously neglected macromorphological traits and to be conspecific with I. zhaoana. Thus, I. thoroldii is removed here from the synonymy of I. potaninii and accepted as a distinct species. This is endemic to China (central Gansu, Qinghai, and northwestern Sichuan provinces, and also Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet autonomous regions) and reaches the highest elevations compared with all other species in the genus Iris s.l. A revised taxonomy of I. thoroldii is provided, and two color forms, often co-occurring, are accepted: the autonymic yellow-flowered form (including a new synonym I. tigridia var. flavescens for which a lectotype was designated) and a form with blue or purple colors is proposed here, I. thoroldii f. ionantha. In addition, images of type specimens and detailed photographs of living plants for easy identification, along with the list of specimens of I. thoroldii that were examined, and also, comments on its distribution and habitats are provided.
Journal Article
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is a very common disorder that affects people of all ages, peaking in the teenage years. It is frequently ignored, underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and mistreated, which not only is detrimental to health but also has societal costs. Although allergic rhinitis is not a serious illness, it is clinically relevant because it underlies many complications, is a major risk factor for poor asthma control, and affects quality of life and productivity at work or school. Management of allergic rhinitis is best when directed by guidelines. A diagnostic trial of a pharmacotherapeutic agent could be started in people with clinically identified allergic rhinitis; however, to confirm the diagnosis, specific IgE reactivity needs to be recorded. Documented IgE reactivity has the added benefit of guiding implementation of environmental controls, which could substantially ameliorate symptoms of allergic rhinitis and might prevent development of asthma, especially in an occupational setting. Many classes of drug are available, effective, and safe. In meta-analyses, intranasal corticosteroids are superior to other treatments, have a good safety profile, and treat all symptoms of allergic rhinitis effectively. First-generation antihistamines are associated with sedation, psychomotor retardation, and reduced academic performance. Only immunotherapy with individually targeted allergens has the potential to alter the natural history of allergic rhinitis. Patients' education is a vital component of treatment. Even with the best pharmacotherapy, one in five affected individuals remains highly symptomatic, and further research is needed in this area.
Journal Article
Efficacy of acupuncture at three nasal acupoints plus acupoint application for perennial allergic rhinitis: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial protocol
Background
Many studies have shown the potential therapeutic effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis. Most of these studies were limited by low-quality evidence. Preliminary experiments showed that the use of acupuncture at three nasal acupoints plus acupoint application (AAP) achieves a more persistent effect in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis than acupuncture alone. In this study, a multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial will be performed, in which acupuncture at nonmeridian acupoints and sham AAP will be used as the control group to evaluate the effect of AAP through long-term observation.
Methods
The trial is designed on the basis of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials 2010 guidelines and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture. A total of 120 participants with perennial allergic rhinitis will be randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. A specially appointed investigator will be in charge of randomization. The participants in the treatment group will be treated with acupuncture at EX-HN3, LI20, and EX-HN8 thrice per week for a total of 12 sessions. In addition, they will undergo AAP at DU14, BL13, EX-BI, and RN22. The participants in the control group will be treated with sham AAP. The primary outcome will be the change in the Total Nasal Symptom Score from baseline to the completion of 4-week treatment. Secondary outcomes include changes in visual analog scale and total non-nasal symptom scores from baseline to the second and fourth weeks of treatment, as well as 1, 3, and 6 months after the completion of treatment. Peripheral blood IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels will be measured, and any side effects related to treatment will be observed and recorded.
Discussion
It is expected that this randomized clinical trial will provide evidence to determine the effects of AAP compared with acupuncture at nonmeridian acupoints and sham AAP, particularly the long-term effect. These findings will help improve the clinical application of this technique.
Trial registration
Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry
AMCTR-ICR-18000179
. Registered on 12 April 2018.
Journal Article
Breeding progress and preparedness for mass‐scale deployment of perennial lignocellulosic biomass crops switchgrass, miscanthus, willow and poplar
Genetic improvement through breeding is one of the key approaches to increasing biomass supply. This paper documents the breeding progress to date for four perennial biomass crops (PBCs) that have high output–input energy ratios: namely Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), species of the genera Miscanthus (miscanthus), Salix (willow) and Populus (poplar). For each crop, we report on the size of germplasm collections, the efforts to date to phenotype and genotype, the diversity available for breeding and on the scale of breeding work as indicated by number of attempted crosses. We also report on the development of faster and more precise breeding using molecular breeding techniques. Poplar is the model tree for genetic studies and is furthest ahead in terms of biological knowledge and genetic resources. Linkage maps, transgenesis and genome editing methods are now being used in commercially focused poplar breeding. These are in development in switchgrass, miscanthus and willow generating large genetic and phenotypic data sets requiring concomitant efforts in informatics to create summaries that can be accessed and used by practical breeders. Cultivars of switchgrass and miscanthus can be seed‐based synthetic populations, semihybrids or clones. Willow and poplar cultivars are commercially deployed as clones. At local and regional level, the most advanced cultivars in each crop are at technology readiness levels which could be scaled to planting rates of thousands of hectares per year in about 5 years with existing commercial developers. Investment in further development of better cultivars is subject to current market failure and the long breeding cycles. We conclude that sustained public investment in breeding plays a key role in delivering future mass‐scale deployment of PBCs. Plant breeding links the research effort with commercial mass upscaling. The authors’ assessment of development status of the four species is shown (poplar having two: one for short rotation coppice (SRC) poplar and one for the more traditional short rotation forestry (SRF)). Mass scale deployment needs developments outside the breeding arenas to drive breeding activities more rapidly and extensively.
Journal Article
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Adherence to Allergic Rhinitis Treatment following a Daily Short Message Service (SMS) via the Mobile Phone
Background: Short message service (SMS) has been suggested as an effective method to improve adherence to medical therapy in some chronic diseases. However, data on the effects of SMS interventions to allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment is limited at present. We aimed to assess whether a daily SMS reminder could improve AR patients' adherence to medication and treatment outcomes. Methods: Fifty outpatients with AR were randomized to either receive (SMS group) or not (control group) a daily SMS reminder on their cell phone to take intranasal corticosteroid treatment for 30 days. The primary study outcomes were self-reported adherence to medication, clinic attendance rate, and severity of AR symptoms using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were changes in nasal patency (minimum cross-sectional area, nasal cavity volume, and nasal airway resistance) and exhaled nasal nitric oxide levels. Results: Self-reported adherence to medication in the SMS group (15/25, 60%), was significantly higher than in the control group (7/25, 28%, p = 0.02). Similarly, the clinic attendance rate in the SMS group (72%) was significantly higher than in the control group (40%, p = 0.02). Although the VAS score improved significantly from baseline in both study groups, the improvement in the SMS group was significantly greater than in the control group (4.38 ± 4.38 vs. 8.74 ± 6.54, p = 0.031). No significant differences were observed between the two groups for the secondary outcomes. Conclusions: A daily SMS reminder may be an effective intervention to improve adherence to medication and treatment outcomes in AR patients.
Journal Article