Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) occurs in remissions and relapses and requires frequent outpatient follow-ups for management by specialists. These visits may not always coincide with the need for attention leading to unnecessary outpatient visits, nonattendances, inadequate monitoring, patient dissatisfaction and increased costs. Self management and shared decision making with health professionals may help overcome such challenges. Use of printed patient education interventions as a self management technique in UC has been discussed in this review. Objectives: To determine the impacts and implications of printed patient education interventions on patient empowerment, improved patient care, decreased healthcare use without burden on primary care and its impact on saving costs. The applicability of such an intervention in context of Hong Kong will also be discussed. Methods: PubMed and ProQuest Health and Medicine Databases, and Google scholar search engine were searched for original studies reporting results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of use of printed patient education interventions in management of inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. There was no limit put on publication dates. Results: Four RCTs were finalized for review. The studies named primary and secondary outcomes, some of which were common to more than one study, and included process evaluations. Knowledge of UC was evaluated as an outcome in two studies, quality of life in four, health related anxiety and depression in two, patient satisfaction in two, medication adherence in one, relapses experienced in one and healthcare use in three. Knowledge and patient satisfaction was found to significantly improve in two studies. Statistically significant reduction was found in healthcare use in 2 RCTs with one also reporting fewer visits to outpatient department and primary care. Results were statistically insignificant for quality of life, medication adherence, relapse length, reporting of relapses and health related anxiety and depression in different studies though further study of their long-term effects is warranted to be better demonstrate their potential benefits. Conclusion: The presently proposed printed materials used in the studies appear to produce modest benefits in self management of UC. As the idea of self management evolves with time, we would need to define the optimal format of printed intervention and ways for continuous reinforcement in patients, as, currently, UC management is a lifelong process. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Although progress has been made in the last decade in understanding the causes of colitis in horses, perhaps 60% of cases of fatal colitis in horses have no known cause. The role of type A Clostridium perfringens strains was evaluated in this study. Fecal samples from 55 horses (43 adults, 12 foals) with colitis were cultured for Clostridium difficile, Salmonella, and C. perfringens. Feces were also tested for C. difficile toxins A/B and C. perfringens toxins (alpha [CPA], beta2 [CPB2], enterotoxin [CPE]) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA). All fecal samples were negative for Salmonella. Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile were isolated from 40% and 5.4% of samples, respectively. No CPE was detected but 36.4% and 18.2% of animals were positive for CPA and CPB2 toxin, respectively. Subsequently, five C. perfringens isolates per fecal sample were genotyped and the supernatants of each of these isolates were evaluated for toxicity. None of the isolates were cpe, netB or tpeL positive, but atypical cpb2 and consensus cpb2 were identified in 13.6% and 3.6% isolates, respectively. All equine C. perfringens isolates showed mild toxicity effects compared to CPB producing C. perfringens positive control. Based on this study population, there was no evidence that C. perfringens had an important role in equine colitis. / Equine Guelph and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

There is no abstract available for this thesis. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

Thesis (MSocSc)--University of South Australia, 1997

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 131-166) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Also available in print.

目的：通過收集潰傷性結腸炎（ Ulcerative colitis, UC ）的相關研究文獻，認識本病的發病機制、病名源流、流行病學及相關中醫藥治療情況，了解2006-2016 年間UC 的中藥口服治療現狀和用藥規律，對本病的常用藥和證治規律做統計分析，為臨床治療和研究該病提供有價值的參考依據。方法：檢索〈中國期刊全文數據庫〉’搜集2006-2016 年間有關中醫藥治療潰傷性結腸炎的研究文獻，按照合理的納入和排除標準’選出符合要求的文章，用Microsoft Office Excel2013 軟件建立UC 中藥口服用藥規律數據庫，對文章中涉及的中藥進行用藥頻率、藥物性味歸經及藥物類型的統計分析，以認識UC 常用內服中藥的情況，分析其用藥和證治規律。結果： (1 ）按照文獻的納入和排除標準進行篩選，總共選出符合要求的文章137 篇，涉及口服治療潰、屬性結腸炎的中藥141 種，總藥物使用次數1623 次，常用藥物依次為：白術、甘草、黃連、白苟、木香、夜苓、黨參、白頭翁、當歸、黃良、憲政仁、陳皮、黃琴、敗醬草、地輸、黃柏、枳殼等。藥物分類以清熱藥和補虛藥為主，清熱藥中使用頻率最高的是清熱燥濕藥與清熱解毒藥，補虛藥中使用頻率最高的是補氣藥，藥性寒、溫頻率相仿，藥味以甘苦辛為主，用藥歸經多為肝經、脾經、胃經和肺經。結論： (1 ）常用口服治佇潰傷性結腸炎的藥物以清濕熱藥和補氣藥為主，排名前十的依次為：白術、甘草、黃連、白苟、木香、夜苓、黨參、白頭翁、當歸、黃皮。（ 2 ）潰傷性結腸炎證型特點：虛實互存、寒熱錯雜，本虛標實，脾虛為本、濕熱為標，實證者以濕熱窒滯、濁毒絡腸為主，而虛證多見氣血虧虛、脾胃虛弱。(3 ）治療應辨清寒熱、虛實、標本，實者清熱燥濕、解毒通絡，虛者調補氣血，健脾理究，並酌情配伍止血收澀等藥。關鍵詢：潰傷性結腸炎﹔中藥﹔規律﹔性味歸經

nÃo hà / Previamente demonstrou-se que o Ãleo essencial de Ocimum micranthum (OEOM) e seu constituinte majoritÃrio, cinamato de metila (CM), tÃm aÃÃes miorrelaxante e antinflamatÃria em tecidos traqueais de ratos, e efeito antinociceptivo em camundongos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antiespasmÃdico e anti-inflamatÃrio do CM no trato gastrintestinal de ratos submetidos a modelo de colite induzida por Ãcido acÃtico. OEOM inibiu contraÃÃes induzidas por carbamilcolina (CCh; 1 M) e KCl (60 mM) em tiras de fundo de estÃmago com CI50 de 91,9 g/mL e 46,8 g/mL, respectivamente, e reduziu significativamente o tÃnus basal e amplitudes de contraÃÃes espontÃneas de duodeno. CM, em conformaÃÃes isomÃricas (Z)- ou (E)-, tambÃm inibiu essas respostas induzidas por CCh e KCl em fundo, antro, duodeno e cÃlon, sem diferenÃas nos efeitos dos isÃmeros em cada segmento. CM comeÃa a inibir as contraÃÃes induzidas por CCh em concentraÃÃo mais baixa que KCl, contudo com potÃncia menor se comparado aos efeitos da atropina. (E)-CM inibe contraÃÃes dependentes dos estoques intracelulares de cÃlcio, e seu efeito inibitÃrio parece nÃo depender da aÃÃo da Ãxido nÃtrico sintase ou da abertura de canais de potÃssio. Analisadas em microscÃpio confocal, cÃlulas de cÃlon dissociadas a fresco tiveram nÃvel citossÃlico de cÃlcio reduzido para 60% do basal apÃs exposiÃÃo a (E)-CM (600M). Avaliando a pressÃo intragÃstrica in vivo, uma dose de (E)-CM 50 mg/kg nÃo afeta amplitude das contraÃÃes gÃstricas, mas se repetida apÃs 30 minutos, as diminui por atà 10 minutos. A induÃÃo de colite foi atravÃs de instilaÃÃo de Ãcido acÃtico a 5% via retal. O grupo sham recebeu instilaÃÃo apenas de salina, e os grupos tratados, alÃm da instilaÃÃo de Ãcido receberam (E)-CM 50 mg/kg/dia ou prednisolona 1 mg/kg/dia durante trÃs dias. A instilaÃÃo com Ãcido acÃtico induziu colite confirmada por alteraÃÃo macroscÃpica, leucocitose, aumento de interleucina-1 tecidual e dÃficit funcional de resposta dependente de canais para cÃlcio operados por voltagem. Esses parÃmetros foram revertidos pelos tratamentos com (E)-CM e prednisolona. Portanto, OEOM e CM apresentam aÃÃo antiespasmÃdica em trato gastrintestinal de ratos in vitro. O efeito do CM passa pela reduÃÃo dos nÃveis intracelulares basais de cÃlcio e independe da participaÃÃo da enzima Ãxido nÃtrico sintase e de canais de potÃssio. CM possui aÃÃo anti-inflamatÃria de magnitude comparÃvel à prednisolona. / It was previously shown that the essential oil of Ocimum micranthum (EOOM), and its major constituent, methyl cinnamate (MC), have myorelaxant action on tracheal smooth muscle, airway anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive on rodents. The present work aimed to evaluate the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory potential of MC on gastrointestinal tissues from rats subjected to acetic acid-induced colitis model. EOOM inhibited carbamylcholine- (CCh; 1 M) and KCl-induced (60 mM) contractions in stomach fundus strips with IC50 of 91.9 g/mL and 46.8 g/mL, respectively. It significantly reduced the basal tonus as well as the spontaneous contractions in duodenum. The isomers (Z)- or (E)-MC also inhibited CCh and KCl contractions in fundus, antrum, duodenum and colon strips, without differences between the effects caused by the isomers in each segment. MC significantly inhibited CCh in lower concentration in comparison with KCl, but with decreased potency if compared to atropine. (E)-MC inhibited intracellular calcium stores-dependent contractions, and its effect seems not to involve the activity of the nitric oxide synthase or the opening of potassium channels. Analyzed by confocal microscopy, freshly dissociated colon cells showed reduced basal cytosolic calcium levels (60%) after (E)-MC (600 M) exposure. In vivo, a first dose of (E)-MC (50 mg/kg) did not affect gastric contractions, but following a second dosage (50 mg/kg) administered a half an hour later, it reduced gastric contractions for 10 minutes. Colitis was induced by rectal instillation of acetic acid 5%. Sham group received only saline in instillation, while treated groups, beyond acid instillation, received (E)-CM 50 mg/kg/day p.o. or prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day p.o. during three days. Acetic acid instillation induced colitis that was macroscopically confirmed, leukocytosis, increased interleucin-1β and functional response loss due to voltage operated calcium channel disorder. These parameters were recovered by (E)-MC or prednisolone. Therefore, EOOM and CM have in vitro antispasmodic effect on rat gastrointestinal tract. The effect of CM involves reduction of the intracellular levels of calcium being independent of the nitric oxide synthase and potassium channels. CM has anti-inflammatory action comparable to prednisolone in magnitude.

Neutrophils are known to be key innate defenders through performing vital and diverse functions such as degranulation, oxidative burst, and generation of extracellular trap (NET). Recent data suggest that neutrophils may also play key roles in modulating tissue inflammatory/immune environment by secreting soluble mediators as well as surface-attached co-activators. Furthermore, neutrophils may adopt distinct functional states either conducive or detrimental for tumor-growth through cellular contact with cancer cells and/or other immune cells such as T helper cells. However, molecular mechanisms that modulate functional adaptations of neutrophils are not well understood. The objective of my thesis is to identify the role of Tollip, a novel TLR signaling adaptor molecule, in modulating neutrophil functions by suppressing the inflammatory signaling pathway. Preliminary data from our lab suggest Tollip deficient neutrophils may be programed to exhibit enhanced anti-tumor activities. Based on these novel findings, I tested the hypothesis that neutrophils also have subsets with different functions similar to monocyte/macrophages, and Tollip deficient neutrophils may be programmed into an enhanced anti-tumor state through upregulating inflammatory signaling processes and mediators. / Ph. D. / Cancer immunotherapy gained instant popularity overnight after former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, announced successful treatment of his metastatic melanoma. Since then, FDA has approved the first immunotherapy in the summer of 2017. Current cancer immunotherapy focuses heavily on the potential of T cells to target unregulated cells in the host. However, time and specificity have proven a difficult challenge to overcome. Innate immune cells may circumvent these challenges and present equal potential as therapy in the fight against cancer. Neutrophils are one of the innate immune cells that provide first line of defense against pathogens. Neutrophils can clear danger or maintain the situation until more cells arrive to help clear the danger. They were originally thought to confer simple and transient effects, but emerging data suggest they may have more diverse role in host defense. We propose programming neutrophils will make the cells less susceptible to cancer manipulation and provide enhanced protection against cancer establishment and maintenance.