JBP485 (cyclo-trans-4-L-hydroxyprolyl-L-serine), a dipeptide first isolated from Laennec that is a proprietary product made from the hydrolysate of human placenta, has been reported to have several biological properties, such as anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. However, the effect of JBP485 on inflammatory bowel disease has not yet been reported. Here we invest...

A human user is centrally involved in a Decision Support System (DSS) task, whereas for an autonomous agent system, a user’s role is a more abstract notion of oversight and approval. In this paper, we examine the potential integration of a multi-agent architecture into a DSS. The motivation in this work is to utilise autonomous agent problemsolvers within a suitable multi-agent framework in suc...

Portulaca oleracea L. is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used as adjuvant therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the mechanism of its activity in IBD still remains unclear. Since previous studies have documented the anti-inflammatory effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors-γ (PPAR-γ), Portulaca regulation of PPAR-γ in inflammation was examined in cur...

Many contingencies, both natural and man-made, have taught people that well coordination of organizations involved in emergency is most critical for effective response, and decisions ought to be made on the foundation of a synthetical analysis of data from multiple sources. These lessons bring new requirements for emergency Decision Support System (DSS), which include the capability of integrat...

Exposure to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induces acute colitis, which is normally resolved after DSS removal. To study chronicity, mice are typically subjected to three to five cycles of weekly DSS exposures, each followed by a 1- to 2-wk rest period. Here, we describe a novel and convenient way of inducing chronic, progressive colitis by a single exposure to DSS. C57BL/6 mice exposed to DSS fo...

BACKGROUND The surface-active substance dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate (DSS) has been reported to increase the peritoneal clearances of urea and creatinine. This study investigated the effects of DSS on the fluid and solute transport characteristics of the peritoneum. DESIGN A 4-h single-dwell experiment session of peritoneal dialysis using 25 ml of 3.86% glucose dialysis solution with an int...

BACKGROUND Oral ferrous iron therapy may reinforce intestinal inflammation. One possible mechanism is by catalyzing the production of reactive oxygen species. We studied the effects of low-dose oral ferrous fumarate on intestinal inflammation and plasma redox status in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: no intervent...

Changes in epithelial tight junction protein expression and apoptosis increase epithelial permeability in inflammatory bowel diseases. The effect of the probiotic mixture VSL#3 on the epithelial barrier was studied in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Acute colitis was induced in BALB/c mice (3.5% DSS for 7 days). Mice were treated with either 15 mg VSL#3 or placebo via gast...

This study was aimed to evaluate the role of commensal Gram-negative bacterium Bacteroides ovatus in murine model of chronic intestinal inflammation. The attempt to induce chronic colitis was done in Bacteroides ovatus-monoassociated, germ-free and conventional mice either in immunocompetent (BALB/c) mice or in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), using 2.5 % dextran-sodium sulfat...