Search results for " efficacy"
showing 10 items of 282 documents
Cardioprotective effects of phytopigments via multiple signaling pathways.
2021
Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the deadliest non-communicable diseases, and millions of dollars are spent every year to combat CVDs. Unfortunately, the multifactorial etiology of CVDs complicates the development of efficient therapeutics. Interestingly, phytopigments show significant pleiotropic cardioprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Purpose This review gives an overview of the cardioprotective effects of phytopigments based on in vitro and in vivo studies as well as clinical trials. Methods A literature-based survey was performed to collect the available data on cardioprotective activities of phytopigments via electronic search engines such as Pub…
Morphological, electrical and optical properties of organic light-emitting diodes with a LiF/Al cathode and an Al-hydroxyquinoline/diamine junction
2004
Abstract We report the results of the morphological, electrical and optical characterisation of double-layer Alq3-based organic emitting diodes with a lithium fluoride (LiF)/Al cathode. A detailed electron microscopy investigation of their cross-section shows the presence of LiF isolated grains underneath the Al film. Due to the introduction of the LiF layer, luminance was larger than 30,000 cd/m2 at a bias voltage VB=25 V with a maximum external luminous efficiency as large as 46 lm/W at VB=20 V. Performing on/off VB cycles at a very low frequency, each time a recovery of the initial electric and luminous performance was observed. The non-exponential decay of both electric current and lumi…
The Impact of Harmonization on ELISPOT Assay Performance
2011
During more than 25 years of application in immunological sciences, ELISPOT has been established as a routine, robust, versatile, and reliable assay. From basic research to clinical immune monitoring, ELISPOT is being used to address the quantification and (to a lesser extent) functional characterization of immune cells secreting different molecules in the context of health and disease, immune intervention, and therapy in humans and other species [Kalyuzhny (Ed.) (2005) Handbook of Elispot: methods and protocols, Vol. 302, Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ]. Over the last decade, ELISPOT assays have been increasingly implemented as an immune-monitoring tool in clinical trials [Schmittel et al. …
The Relative Efficacy of Price Announcements and Express Communication for Collusion: Experimental Findings
2014
Collusion is when firms coordinate on suppressing competition, and coordination typically requires that firms communicate in some manner. This study conducts experiments to determine what modes of communication are able to produce and sustain collusion and how the efficacy of communication depends on firm heterogeneity and the number of firms. We consider two different communication treatments: non-binding price announcements and unrestricted written communication. Our main findings are that price announcements allow subjects to coordinate on a high price but only under duopoly and when firms are symmetric. While price announcements do result in higher prices when subjects are asymmetric, t…
Physical integration: A causal account for consciousness
2014
The issue of integration in neural networks is intimately connected with that of consciousness. In this paper, integration as an effective level of physical organization is contrasted with a methodological integrative approach. Understanding how consciousness arises out of neural processes requires a model of integration in just causal physical terms. Based on a set of feasible criteria (physical grounding, causal efficacy, no circularity and scaling), a causal account of physical integration for consciousness centered on joint causation is outlined.
Self-isolation for the self-centered: Negative framing increases narcissists' willingness to self-isolate during COVID-19 through higher response eff…
2021
Abstract The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has come with various health recommendations restricting personal freedom, such as social distancing and self-isolation. Considering the personal sacrifices involved, not all individuals are equally willing to comply with such recommendations, which might pose a health hazard further down the line. In a high-powered study (N = 800), we show that individual differences in narcissism influence the willingness to self-isolate during pandemics, with individuals high (vs. low) in narcissism being less willing to self-isolate. However, this tendency can be offset by tailored message framing. Specifically, individuals high (vs. low) in narcissism are mo…
Rationale and evidence on the use of tocilizumab in COVID-19: a systematic review
2020
Abstract Background Tocilizumab is an IL-6 receptor-blocking agent proposed for the treatment of severe COVID-19. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the rationale for the use of tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 and to summarize the available evidence regarding its efficacy and safety. Methods MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, pre-print repositories (bioRxiv and medRxiv) and two trial Registries were searched for studies on the use of tocilizumab in COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral pneumonia, and/or sepsis until 20th June 2020. Results We identified 3 indirect pre-clinical studies and 28 clinical studies including 5776 patients with COVID-19 (13 with a comparison group,…
Effect of physical activity counseling on physical activity of older people in Finland (ISRCTN 07330512).
2011
SUMMARY The aim of this study was to describe the underlying theory and the implementation of a 2-year individualized physical activity counseling intervention and to evaluate whether benefits persisted 1.5 years after the intervention. The sample included 632 sedentary 75- to 81-year-old participants. Data were collected in 2003 –2005. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. The intervention consisted of an individualized face-to-face meeting followed by telephone contacts every 4 months for 2 years, with the aim to increase participation in specific physical activities as well as to increase habitual physical activity. At the 2-year follow-up,…
Assessment of tobacco dependence curricula in Italian dental hygiene schools
2013
The aim of this study was to assess the level of tobacco dependence education offered by Italian dental hygiene programs. A fifty-question survey was mailed to the thirty-one active public and private dental hygiene programs in Italy during the 2008-09 academic year. The survey assessed faculty confidence in teaching tobacco treatment, which courses contained tobacco dependence content, the number of minutes spent on specific content areas, and the level of clinical competence that dental hygiene graduates should be able to demonstrate. Surveys were returned by sixteen programs for a response rate of 52 percent. Respondents indicated tobacco dependence education was included in clinic or cl…
W1113 Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Symptomatic Intestinal Crohn's Disease Strictures
2009
Aim: To evaluate prospectively the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic hydrostatic balloon dilation in a consecutive cohort of symptomatic intestinal Crohn’s disease strictures. Methods: Between September 2003 and December 2008 we performed endoscopic balloon dilations in 37 Crohn’s disease patients with 39 intestinal symptomatic strictures (4 naive and 35 postoperative). Dilations were performed using a Rigiflex through-the-scope balloon. Clinical success rate was claimed if a patient remained asymptomatic and did not require surgery or further endoscopic dilation, following technical success. Actuarial curves of clinical, endoscopic (redilation) and surgical recurrence were obtaine…