The data support the clinical effectiveness of HT in health enhancement, specifically for raising sIgA concentrations, lowering stress perceptions and relieving pain. The evidence indicates that positive responses were not exclusively as a result of placebo, that is, client beliefs, expectations, and behaviors regarding HT.

Background The pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-17, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the role of TNFα and IL-17 towards induction of profibrotic factor, periostin. Methods HepG2 cells were cultured and treated with inflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IL-17. Computational promoter sequence analysis of the periostin promoter was performed to define the putative binding sites for transcription factors. Transcription factors were analyzed by Western blot and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. Periostin and transcription factor expression analysis was performed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and fluorescence microscopy. Type I collagen expression from fibroblast cultures was analyzed by Western blot and Sircol soluble collagen assay. Results Activation of HepG2 Cells with TNFα and IL-17 enhanced the expression of periostin (3.5 and 4.4 fold, respectively p<0.05) compared to untreated cells. However, combined treatment with both TNFα and IL-17 at similar concentration demonstrated a 13.3 fold increase in periostin (p<0.01), thus suggesting a synergistic role of these cytokines. Periostin promoter analysis and specific siRNA knock-down revealed that TNFα induces periostin through cJun, while IL-17 induced periostin via STAT-3 signaling mechanisms. Treatment of the supernatant from the cytokine activated HepG2 cells on fibroblast cultures induced enhanced expression of type I collagen (>9.1 fold, p<0.01), indicative of a direct fibrogenic effect of TNFα and IL-17. Conclusion TNFα and IL-17 induced fibrogenesis through cJun and STAT-3 mediated expression of profibrotic biomarker, periostin. Therefore, periostin might serve as a novel biomarker in early diagnosis of liver fibrosis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9) play an important role in the tumor metastasis through cleavage of proinflammatory cytokines. Violacein a small molecule produced by Chromobacterium violaceum and has been implicated with anti-cancer effects. In this study we investigated the molecular basis of violacein mediated downregulation of CXCL12/CXCR4, chemokine-receptor ligand interaction. Zymography analysis demonstrated that violacein significantly inhibited the cytokine (TNFα and TGFβ) mediated MMP-2 activation in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. MMP-2 plays a critical role in the secretion of inflammatory chemokine, CXCL12, involved in cell migration and cancer metastasis. ELISA analysis demonstrated that violacein inhibited the secretion of CXCL12 from the activated MCF-7 cells. Further, we show that MMP-2/-9 act synergistically at two distinct steps towards the membrane expression of the tumor metastasis chemokine receptor, CXCR4. Violacein efficiently downregulated the CXCR4 membrane expression through MMP-9 inhibition. Taken together, these studies demonstrate a unique anti-tumor mechanism of action of violacein through reduction of CXCL12/CXCR4 interaction. These studies could offer a novel venue for violacein in cancer therapy.

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Climate changes, including chronic changes in precipitation amounts, will influence plant physiology and growth. However, such precipitation effects on switchgrass, a major bioenergy crop, have not been well investigated. We conducted a two-year precipitation simulation experiment using large pots (95 L) in an environmentally controlled greenhouse in Nashville, TN. Five precipitation treatments (ambient precipitation, and -50%, -33%, +33%, and +50% of ambient) were applied in a randomized complete block design with lowland "Alamo" switchgrass plants one year after they were established from tillers. The growing season progression of leaf physiology, tiller number, height, and aboveground biomass were determined each growing season. Precipitation treatments significantly affected leaf physiology, growth, and aboveground biomass. The photosynthetic rates in the wet (+50% and +33%) treatments were significantly enhanced by 15.9% and 8.1%, respectively, than the ambient treatment. Both leaf biomass and plant height were largely increased, resulting in dramatically increases in aboveground biomass by 56.5% and 49.6% in the +50% and +33% treatments, respectively. Compared to the ambient treatment, the drought (-33% and -50%) treatments did not influence leaf physiology, but the -50% treatment significantly reduced leaf biomass by 37.8%, plant height by 16.3%, and aboveground biomass by 38.9%. This study demonstrated that while switchgrass in general is a drought tolerant grass, severe drought significantly reduces Alamo’s growth and biomass, and that high precipitation stimulates its photosynthesis and growth.