OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:In a randomized and controlled trial, sixty-three cases with RA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (n = 32) and a simple acupuncture group (n = 31). Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected by coordination method combined whole and local acupoints. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the local acupoints near painful joints, continuous wave, retaining needle for 30 minutes, and then electroacupuncture at Back-shu acupoints, retaining needle for 15 minutes, and the simple acupuncture group was treated with the same acupoints selection and acupuncture manipulation without electroacupuncture apparatus. They were all treated once every other day for 20 days as one course. After 3 courses, changes of interleukins in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients were observed.

RESULTS:Both of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture had significant effect on IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients with RA ( P<0.01, P<0.05). But after electroacupuncture, the absolute value and improvement value of decreasing IL-1 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those of simple acupuncture (all P<0.05), and of IL-4 in joint fluid was super than that after simple acupuncture (P<0.05), and of IL-6 and the absolute value of decreasing IL-10 were almost the same after both treatment (all P>0.05), and after electroacupuncture, the improvement value of IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those after simple acupuncture (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:Electroacupuncture can effectively decrease the proinflammatory cytokine of IL-1 and IL-6 and increase the inhibition cytokine of IL-4 and IL-10 and improve the internal environment of occurrence and progression of RA.

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy on the inflammatory process in the calcaneal tendon of ovariectomized rats (OVX) through the involvement of the inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Thirty-five female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 3 groups of OVX rats totaling 30 rats (untreated OVX rats [OVX injury group], treated OVX rats [OVX LED group], and control OVX rats; subgroups existed based on the sampling times, which were 3, 7, and 14 days) and 1 group of non-OVX rats (not OVX; n = 5). Tendon injury was induced by trauma using a 208-g mass placed at 20 cm from the right tendon of each animal with energy of 0.70 J. The animals were treated 12 h after tendonitis with LED therapy and every 48 h thereafter until euthanasia (at 3, 7, or 14 days). The tendons were dissected and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C, thawed only at the time of immunoenzymatic testing (ELISA). Groups treated with LED showed a decrease in the number of pro-inflammatory cells, IL-6, and TNF-α (p<0.05), and an increase in IL-10 (p < 0.05) when compared to the not OVX group (p < 0.05). It was concluded that low-intensity LED treatment using the parameters and wavelength of 945 nm in the time periods studied reduced the release of IL-6 and TNF-α and increased the release of IL-10, thereby improving the inflammatory response in OVX rats.

Music therapy (MT) has been used in geriatric nursing hospitals, but there has been no extensive research into whether it actually has beneficial effects on elderly patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and dementia. We investigated the effects of MT on the autonomic nervous system and plasma cytokine and catecholamine levels in elderly patients with CVD and dementia, since these are related to aging and chronic geriatric disease. We also investigated the effects of MT on congestive heart failure (CHF) events.Eighty-seven patients with pre-existing CVD were enrolled in the study. We assigned patients into an MT group (n = 55) and non-MT group (n = 32). The MT group received MT at least once per week for 45 minutes over 10 times. Cardiac autonomic activity was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). We measured plasma cytokine and catecholamine levels in both the MT group and non-MT group. We compared the incidence of CHF events between these two groups. In the MT group, rMSSD, pNN50, and HF were significantly increased by MT, whereas LF/HF was slightly decreased. In the non-MT group, there were no significant changes in any HRV parameters. Among cytokines, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the MT group was significantly lower than those in the non-MT group. Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were significantly lower in the MT group than in the non-MT group. CHF events were less frequent in the MT group than in the non-MT group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that MT enhanced parasympathetic activities and decreased CHF by reducing plasma cytokine and catecholamine levels.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of short-term forest bathing on human health.

METHODS:Twenty healthy male university students participated as subjects and were randomly divided into two groups of 10. One group was sent on a two-night trip to a broad-leaved evergreen forest, and the other was sent to a city area. Serum cytokine levels reflecting inflammatory and stress response, indicators reflecting oxidative stress, the distribution of leukocyte subsets, and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations were measured before and after the experiment to evaluate the positive health effects of forest environments. A profile of mood states (POMS) evaluation was used to assess changes in mood states.

RESULTS:No significant differences in the baseline values of the indicators were observed between the two groups before the experiment. Subjects exposed to the forest environment showed reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory level, as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor a levels compared with the urban group. Serum cortisol levels were also lower than in the urban group. Notably, the concentration of plasma ET-1 was much lower in subjects exposed to the forest environment. The POMS evaluation showed that after exposure to the forest environment, subjects had lower scores in the negative subscales, and the score for vigor was increased.

CONCLUSION:Forest bathing is beneficial to human health, perhaps through preventive effects related to several pathological factors.

BACKGROUND:Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) seems to attenuate the overproduction of reactive species during and after exercises. Yet, no meta-analysis has summarized the magnitude of this effect. The objective of this study was to systematically review the effects of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, damage, soreness, and the musculoskeletal functionality after a single bout of exercise.

METHODS:Major electronic databases were searched, from inception to September 2019, for placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress parameters, inflammation markers, muscle damage, muscle soreness, and muscle functionality after a single bout of exercise in healthy volunteers. Random-effects modelling was used to compare mean changes from pre- to postexercise in participants that were supplemented with vitamin C versus placebo. Data were reported as standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS:A total of 18 RCTs, accounting for 313 participants (62% males, median age = 24 years) were included. Vitamin C supplementation reduced lipid peroxidation immediately (SMD = - 0.488; 95% CI = - 0.888 to - 0.088), 1 h (SMD = - 0.521; 95% CI = - 0.911 to - 0.131) and between 1 and 2 h (SMD = - 0.449; 95% CI = - 0.772 to - 0.126) following exercise. Exercise induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) response was attenuated 2 h (SMD = - 0.764; 95% CI = - 1.279 to - 0.248) and between 1 and 2 h (SMD = - 0.447; 95% CI = - 0.828 to - 0.065) after exercise. No effects of vitamin C supplementation were found on creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol levels, muscle soreness, and muscle strength.

CONCLUSION:Vitamin C supplementation attenuates the oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) and inflammatory response (IL-6) to a single bout of exercise.

REGISTRATION:PROSPERO (CRD42018094222).

Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study was to investigate the protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment with different waveforms on septic brain injury in rats and its mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated by EA with different waveforms (continuous wave, dilatational wave, or intermittent wave) at Baihui (GV20) and Tsusanli (ST36) acupoints for 30min, and underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham operation. The results showed that EA pretreatment with different waveforms improved survival rate, attenuated encephaledema, brain injury, neuronal apoptosis and cognitive dysfunction, and preserved blood-brain barrier (BBB). EA pretreatment decreased the production of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-6, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and hippocampus at 48h after sham or CLP operation. Additionally, EA pretreatment downregulated the expressions of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba 1). The effect of dilatational wave was the most significant, followed by intermittent wave, and continuous wave was relatively poor. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EA pretreatment with three waveforms alleviates sepsis-inducedbrain injury by inhibition of microglial activation and attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings suggest that EA pretreatment with dilatational wave at Baihui and Tsusanli acupoints might be a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving septic brain injury.

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs), which include cardiovascular disease, some cancers, for example, colon cancer, breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes, are reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. It has now become clear that low-grade chronic inflammation is a key player in the pathogenesis of most CNCDs. Given that regular exercise offers protection against all causes of mortality, primarily by protection against atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, we suggest that exercise may exert some of its beneficial health effects by inducing anti-inflammatory actions. Recently, IL-6 was introduced as the first myokine, defined as a cytokine, which is produced and released by contracting skeletal muscle fibres, exerting its effects in other organs of the body. We suggest that skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ and that myokines may be involved in mediating the beneficial effects against CNCDs associated with low-grade inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of elemental diet on mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD), mainly by cytokine measurements.

METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with active CD were treated with an elemental diet (Elental) for 4 weeks. The mucosal biopsies were obtained from the terminal ileum and large bowel before and after treatment. As a control group, mucosal biopsies were obtained from 20 patients without inflammation. Mucosal cytokine concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: After treatment, clinical remission was achieved in 20 patients (71%). Endoscopic healing and improvement rates were 44% and 76% in the terminal ileum and 39% and 78% in the large bowel, respectively. Histologic healing and improvement rates were 19% and 54% in the terminal ileum and 20% and 55% in the large bowel, respectively. Before treatment, the mucosal concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the ileum and large bowel were significantly higher than in controls. These cytokine concentrations decreased to the levels of control after treatment. IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratio in the ileum and large bowel was significantly lower than in controls before treatment. The ratio increased to the level of controls after treatment. The endoscopic and histologic healing of the mucosal inflammation was associated with a decline of the mucosal cytokines and an increase of the IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratio.

CONCLUSIONS: The elemental diet (Elental) reduced mucosal cytokine production and corrected an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in CD.

This randomized dose comparison trial examined if higher exercise volume decreased inflammatory biomarkers, associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk, more than moderate exercise volume. The Breast Cancer and Exercise Trial in Alberta (BETA) was a two-center, two-armed randomized trial in 400 inactive, healthy, postmenopausal women, aged 50-74 years, with a body mass index of 22-40 kg/m2. Participants were randomized to high (300 minutes/week) or moderate (150 minutes/week) volumes of aerobic exercise while maintaining usual diet. Fasting blood concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were measured at baseline, six, and 12-months. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed using linear mixed models adjusted for baseline biomarker concentrations. Intention-to-treat analyses of 386 (97%) participants showed no statistically significant group differences for changes in biomarkerlevels at 6 and 12 months. Additionally, we did not observe any modification of this effect by baseline characteristics of participants. In post hoc analyses based on self-selected exercise level (measured in minutes/week) , CRP decreased by 22.45% for participants who exercised>246 minutes/week (highest quintile) and increased by 0.07% for those who exercised<110 minutes/week (lowest quintile, P-trend=0.04), adjusted for baseline covariates. When this analysis was restricted to include exercise time in the target heart rate zone only, statistically significant trends were observed for both CRP (P<0.01) and IL-6 (P=0.04). Prescribing 300 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise did not improve inflammatory markers compared to 150 minutes/week in postmenopausal women. Decreases in CRP were observed with higher self-selected exercise volume.

Intermittent fasting-dietary restriction (IF-DR) is an increasingly popular intervention to promote healthy aging and delay age associated decline in brain functions. Also, the use of herbal interventions is gaining attention due to their non-pharmacological approach to treat several abnormalities and promote general health with least side effects. The present study was aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of IF-DR regimen with herbal supplementation on anxiety-like behavior and neuroinflammation in middle aged female rats. We used dried leaf powder of Withania somnifera and dried stem powder of Tinospora cordifolia for our study. The rats were divided into three groups: (1) Control group fed ad libitum (AL); (2) rats deprived of food for full day and fed ad libitum on every alternate day (IF-DR); and (3) IF-DR and herbal extract (DRH) group in which rats were fed ad libitum with herbal extract supplemented diet, every alternate day. Post regimen, the rats were tested for anxiety-like behavior and further used for study of key inflammatory molecules (NFκB, Iba1, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) and glial marker (GFAP) in hippocampus and piriform cortex regions of brain. The study was further extended to explore the effect of DRH regimen on stress response protein (HSP70) and calcium dependent regulators of synaptic plasticity (CaMKIIα, Calcineurin). Our data demonstrated that DRH regimen reduced anxiety-like behavior in middle age female rats and associated neuroinflammation by ameliorating key inflammatory cytokines and modulated stress response. The present data may provide scientific validation for anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory potential of herbal intervention combined with short term IF-DR regimen.

Neuroinflammation is a complex pathological process usually results from abnormal microglial activation, thus, intervention in a microglial stimulation pathway could be a promising approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Luteolin is an important bioflavonoid possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which is widely studied over these years. Light emitting diode (LED) therapy is reported to be a potential therapeutic strategy for many diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about the anti-inflammatory effect of LED therapy on activated microglial cells, even less is known whether there is a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect exist in LED and luteolin therapy. In this study, we aimed to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of luteolin and LED combination therapy in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. We showed that luteolin inhibited LPS-induced cytotoxicity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production through modulation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in BV2 cells. In addition, LED therapy enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of luteolin. These results suggest that a synergistic effect between luteolin and LED could be a new effective therapy in relieving neuroinflammation.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of local cryotherapy in human non-septic knee arthritis.

METHODS:In the phase I of the study, patients were randomized to receive either ice (30 min; N = 16) or cold CO(2 min; N = 16) applied twice during 1 day at an 8-h interval on the arthritic knee. In phase II, 16 other ice-treated arthritic knees according to the same protocol were compared to the contralateral non-treated arthritic knees (N = 16). The synovial fluid was analyzed just before the first cold application, then 24 h later. IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17A, VEGF, NF-kB-p65 protein, and PG-E2 levels were measured in the synovial fluid and compared before/after the two cold applications.

RESULTS:Forty-seven patients were included (17 gouts, 11 calcium pyrophosphate deposition diseases, 13 rheumatoid arthritides, 6 spondyloarthritides). Local ice cryotherapy significantly reduced the IL-6, IL-1β, VEGF, NF-kB-p65, and PG-E2 synovial levels, especially in the microcrystal-induced arthritis subgroup, while only phosphorylated NF-kB-p65 significantly decreased in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis patients. Cold COonly reduced the synovial VEGF levels. In the phase II of the study, the synovial PG-E2 was significantly reduced in ice-treated knees, while it significantly increased in the corresponding contralateral non-treated arthritic knees, with a significant inter-class effect size (mean difference - 1329 [- 2232; - 426] pg/mL; N = 12).

CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that local ice cryotherapy reduces IL-6, IL-1β, and VEGF synovial protein levels, mainly in microcrystal-induced arthritis, and potentially through NF-kB and PG-E2-dependent mechanisms.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03850392-registered February 20, 2019-retrospectively registered.

PURPOSE:Hemodialysis patients with depression have a higher risk of death and hospitalization. Although there is pharmacological management for the depression of hemodialysis patients, the adverse effect of the drug limits the use. The nonpharmacological way, bicycle riding, may be an effective way for the therapy of the depression in hemodialysis patients. However, the underlying mechanism of this relationship is still not fully explained, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) are associated with depression and exercise. Thus, the effects of bicycle riding on the levels of the interleukin were explored.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:One hundred and eighty-nine patients with chronic hemodialysis were selected and randomly assigned to three groups of medicine (MG, received 20-mg escitalopram daily), medicine and aerobic exercise (MAG, received 20-mg escitalopram daily and bicycle riding six times weekly), and only aerobic exercise (AG, received 20-mg placebo daily and bicycle riding six times weekly). The whole experiment lasted for 18 weeks. The quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and depression severity according to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition [DSM-IV] were measured before and at the end of this study. The serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

RESULTS:The quality of life was improved and depression severity was reduced significantly in the MAG and AG groups when compared with the MG group (P<0.05). Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were the highest in the MG group, moderate in the MAG group and the lowest in AG group. On the other hand, the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were closely associated with depression scores (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:Aerobic exercise improves the quality of life and ameliorates the depression severity of the patients undergoing hemodialysis by affecting the levels of IL-6 and IL-18. Bicycle riding is a potential way for the depression therapy of the patients with chronic hemodialysis.

Lung diseases constitute an important public health problem and its growing level of concern has led to efforts for the development of new therapies, particularly for the control of lung inflammation. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been highlighted as a non-invasive therapy with few side effects, but its mechanisms need to be better understood and explored. Considering that pollution causes several harmful effects on human health, including lung inflammation, in this study, we have used formaldehyde (FA), an environmental and occupational pollutant, for the induction of neutrophilic lung inflammation. Our objective was to investigate the local and systemic effects of LLLT after FA exposure. Male Wistar rats were exposed to FA (1%) or vehicle (distillated water) during 3 consecutive days and treated or not with LLLT (1 and 5 hours after each FA exposure). Non-manipulated rats were used as control. 24 h after the last FA exposure, we analyzed the local and systemic effects of LLLT. The treatment with LLLT reduced the development of neutrophilic lung inflammation induced by FA, as observed by the reduced number of leukocytes, mast cells degranulated, and a decreased myeloperoxidase activity in the lung. Moreover, LLLT also reduced the microvascular lung permeability in the parenchyma and the intrapulmonary bronchi. Alterations on the profile of inflammatory cytokines were evidenced by the reduced levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and the elevated levels of IL-10 in the lung. Together, our results showed that LLLT abolishes FA-induced neutrophilic lung inflammation by a reduction of the inflammatory cytokines and mast cell degranulation. This study may provide important information about the mechanisms of LLLT in lung inflammation induced by a pollutant.

Recently, investigations suggest the benefits of low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in noninvasive treatment of cellulite, improvement of body countering, and control of lipid profile. However, the underlying key mechanism for such potential effects associated to aerobic plus resistance training to reduce body fat and inflammatory process, related to obesity in women still unclear. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of combined therapy of LLLT and aerobic plus resistance training in inflammatory profile and body composition of obese women. For this study, it involved 40 obese women with age of 20-40 years. Inclusion criteria were primary obesity and body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m(2) and less than 40 kg/m(2). The voluntaries were allocated in two different groups: phototherapy group and SHAM group. The interventions consisted on physical exercise training and application of phototherapy (808 nm), immediately after the physical exercise, with special designed device. Proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory adipokines were measured. It was showed that LLLT associated to physical exercise is more effective than physical exercise alone to increase adiponectin concentration, an anti-inflammatory adipokine. Also, it showed reduced values of neck circumference (cm), insulin concentration (μU/ml), and interleukin-6 (pg/ml) in LLLT group. In conclusion, phototherapy can be an important tool in the obesity, mostly considering its potential effects associated to exercise training inattenuating inflammation in women, being these results applicable in the clinical practices to control related risk associated to obesity.

The use of mind-body therapies, including Tai Chi, Qigong, yoga, and meditation, has grown steadily in recent years. These approaches have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, and research has begun to examine the impact of these therapies on biological processes, including inflammation. A review of 26 randomized controlled trials was conducted to describe the effects of mind-body therapies (MBTs) on circulating, cellular, and genomic markers of inflammation. This qualitative evaluation showed mixed effects of MBTs on circulating inflammatory markers, including CRP and IL-6, and on measures of stimulated cytokine production. More consistent findings were seen for genomic markers, with trials showing decreased expression of inflammation-related genes and reduced signaling through the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. Potential mechanisms for these effects are discussed, including alterations in neuroendocrine, neural, and psychological and behavioral processes.

Chronic migraine (CM) is a disabling condition arising from a complex mixture of interconnected biological, psychological and social factors, and is often associated with medication overuse (MO). Mindfulness is emerging as a helpful treatment for pain, and one study showed that the longitudinal 12 months' course of CM-MO patients that attended mindfulness-based treatment alone was similar to that of patients receiving medical prophylaxis alone; in this study, we describe the course of biomarkers of inflammation. Our results provide initial evidence of sustained similar effects on reduced concentration of biomarkers of inflammation, although not sizeable enough to reach statistical significance. Whether more intensive treatment and/or larger samples would lead to greater changes is unknown, but these encouraging preliminary findings suggest further research is warranted.

Chronic migraine (CM) is a disabling condition arising from a complex mixture of interconnected biological, psychological and social factors, and is often associated with medication overuse (MO). Mindfulness is emerging as a helpful treatment for pain, and one study showed that the longitudinal 12 months' course of CM-MO patients that attended mindfulness-based treatment alone was similar to that of patients receiving medical prophylaxis alone; in this study, we describe the course of biomarkers of inflammation. Our results provide initial evidence of sustained similar effects on reduced concentration of biomarkers of inflammation, although not sizeable enough to reach statistical significance. Whether more intensive treatment and/or larger samples would lead to greater changes is unknown, but these encouraging preliminary findings suggest further research is warranted.

This study examined the effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on psychological functioning and inflammatory biomarkers in women with histories of interpersonal trauma. The 8-week MBSR program was conducted at a community-based health center and participants (N = 50) completed several measures of psychological functioning at study entry as well as 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks later. Inflammatory biomarkers were assayed from blood collected at each assessment. A series of linear mixed-model analyses were conducted to measure the effect of attendance and time on the dependent variables. Time was associated with significant decreases in perceived stress, depression, trait and state anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as increases in mindfulness. Session attendance was associated with significant decreases in interleukin (IL)-6 levels. This pilot study demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of MBSR on psychological functioning and the inflammatory biomarker IL-6 among trauma-exposed and primarily low-income women. Decreases in inflammation have implications for this population, as interpersonal trauma can instigate chronic physiological dysregulation, heightened morbidity, and premature death. This study's preliminary results support efforts to investigate biological remediation with behavioral interventions in vulnerable populations.

This study examined the effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on psychological functioning and inflammatory biomarkers in women with histories of interpersonal trauma. The 8-week MBSR program was conducted at a community-based health center and participants (N = 50) completed several measures of psychological functioning at study entry as well as 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks later. Inflammatory biomarkers were assayed from blood collected at each assessment. A series of linear mixed-model analyses were conducted to measure the effect of attendance and time on the dependent variables. Time was associated with significant decreases in perceived stress, depression, trait and state anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as increases in mindfulness. Session attendance was associated with significant decreases in interleukin (IL)-6 levels. This pilot study demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of MBSR on psychological functioning and the inflammatory biomarker IL-6 among trauma-exposed and primarily low-income women. Decreases in inflammation have implications for this population, as interpersonal trauma can instigate chronic physiological dysregulation, heightened morbidity, and premature death. This study's preliminary results support efforts to investigate biological remediation with behavioral interventions in vulnerable populations.