Long-term effects of allergen sensitization and exposure in adult asthma: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: : We investigated the effects of sensitization and exposure to common domestic allergens on longitudinal changes in lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. METHODS: : Subjects attended 2 visits that were 4 years apart. Skin prick testing was performed and household dust samples were collected for quantification of mite, dog, and cat allergens at baseline. Measurements of lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness were completed at both visits. RESULTS: : Dust samples were collected in 165 of the 200 subjects completing both visits. Mean length of follow-up was 47 months. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, measured at both visits in 86 subjects, deteriorated in those exposed to high mite allergen levels compared with those not exposed [mean (95% CI) doubling dose change PD20 = -0.44 (-1.07 to 0.19) vs 0.82 (0.27 to 1.36)], but improved in those exposed to high dog allergen levels compared with those not exposed [1.10 (0.33 to 1.86) vs 0.10 (-0.39 to 0.58)]. The associations were significant in the multivariate models. Cat allergen exposure was not associated with any changes in lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: : In a 4-year prospective cohort of persons with asthma, exposure to high levels of dust mite allergens at baseline was associated with a subsequent increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness

Perfusion CT is a valuable diagnostic method for prostate cancer: a prospective study of 94 patients

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of perfusion computer tomography (pCT) in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostics. Copyright:Materials and Methods: 94 patients with biopsy-proven PCa were enrolled in the study. Dynamic pCT of the prostate gland was performed for 50 seconds after an intravenous injection of contrast medium. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were computed in the suspected PCa area and in normal prostatic tissue.Results: PCa was visible in pCT in 90 of the 94 examined patients as a focal peripheral CT enhancement. When PCa was located in the peripheral zone (PZ), it was visible on perfusion maps, mostly showing an early peak followed by wash-out. The average values of all perfusion parameters were higher for tumour than for normal prostate tissue (p 7). In high-grade PCa, the mean BF value was significantly higher (p = 0.001) than the mean value of BF low- and medium-grade PCa (p = 0.011). Similar results were obtained regarding the mean values of BV; the more aggressive the cancer grade, the higher the mean BV value (p = 0.04).Conclusion: CT quantitative perfusion imaging allows PCa to be distinguished from normal prostate tissue. The highest values for BF and BV were observed in the most aggressive PCa grade

A brief parenting intervention to enhance the parent-child relationship in Hong Kong: Harmony@Home

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Position paper on screening for breast cancer by the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) and 30 national breast radiology bodies from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

UNLABELLED: EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support mammography for population-based screening, demonstrated to reduce breast cancer (BC) mortality and treatment impact. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the reduction in mortality is 40 % for women aged 50-69 years taking up the invitation while the probability of false-positive needle biopsy is <1 % per round and overdiagnosis is only 1-10 % for a 20-year screening. Mortality reduction was also observed for the age groups 40-49 years and 70-74 years, although with "limited evidence". Thus, we firstly recommend biennial screening mammography for average-risk women aged 50-69 years; extension up to 73 or 75 years, biennially, is a second priority, from 40-45 to 49 years, annually, a third priority. Screening with thermography or other optical tools as alternatives to mammography is discouraged. Preference should be given to population screening programmes on a territorial basis, with double reading. Adoption of digital mammography (not film-screen or phosphor-plate computer radiography) is a priority, which also improves sensitivity in dense breasts. Radiologists qualified as screening readers should be involved in programmes. Digital breast tomosynthesis is also set to become "routine mammography" in the screening setting in the next future. Dedicated pathways for high-risk women offering breast MRI according to national or international guidelines and recommendations are encouraged. KEY POINTS: • EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support screening mammography. • A first priority is double-reading biennial mammography for women aged 50-69 years. • Extension to 73-75 and from 40-45 to 49 years is also encouraged. • Digital mammography (not film-screen or computer radiography) should be used. • DBT is set to become "routine mammography" in the screening setting in the next future

An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen

Background: Cats are the major source of indoor inhalant allergens after house dust mites. The global incidence of cat allergies is rising sharply, posing a major public health problem. Ten cat allergens have been identified. The major allergen responsible for symptoms is Fel d 1, a secretoglobin and not a lipocalin, making the cat a special case among mammals. Main body: Given its clinical predominance, it is essential to have a good knowledge of this allergenic fraction, including its basic structure, to understand the new exciting diagnostic and therapeutic applications currently in development. The recent arrival of the component-resolved diagnosis, which uses molecular allergens, represents a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the disease. Recombinant Fel d 1 is now available for in vitro diagnosis by the anti-Fel d 1 specific IgE assay. The first part of the review will seek to describe the recent advances related to Fel d 1 in terms of positive diagnosis and assessment of disease severity. In daily practice, anti-Fel d 1 IgE tend to replace those directed against the overall extract but is this attitude justified? We will look at the most recent arguments to try to answer this question. In parallel, a second revolution is taking place thanks to molecular engineering, which has allowed the development of various forms of recombinant Fel d 1 and which seeks to modify the immunomodulatory properties of the molecule and thus the clinical history of the disease via various modalities of anti-Fel d 1-specific immunotherapy. We will endeavor to give a clear and practical overview of all these trends

Assessment of mercury in muscles, liver and gills of marine and freshwater fish

In this study, the total mercury concentration was determined in the muscles, liver and gills of six fish species (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb., carp Cyprinus carpio L., bream Abramis brama L., perch Perca fluviatilis L., ide Leuciscus idus L. and flounder Platichthys flesus L.). The fish were acquired from October to November 2012. Mercury was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry using thermal decomposition, compounds of mercury and amalgamation. The mercury content in fish organs reached 0.006-0.168 (in mg kgˉ¹ wet weight) in muscles, 0.001-0.027 in gills and 0.003-0.045 in the liver. The muscles of perch and ide had significantly more Hg compared to the other fish’s muscles (P≤0.05). The liver and gills of perch, ide and flounder contained more Hg than the same tissues of the other fish (P≤0.05). Generally, the highest Hg content was determined in muscles (except rainbow trout) (P≤0.05), whereas the lowest Hg content was found in gills (except perch) (P≤0.05). The content of Hg in gills of perch did not differ from the one in the liver (P>0.05). There was a positive correlation between the weight or length of a fish and the Hg concentration in its tissues, except for the length and Hg in the gills of carp. However, a statistically significant positive correlation between the body weight and the Hg levels in fish appeared only in the case of the organs of ide (P≤0.004) and muscles of carp (P≤0.038). The correlation between the factor condition and the content of Hg, albeit positive (0.106 0.05)

Content of macro- and microelements, and fatty acids in muscles of salmon (Salmo salar L.), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), and carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Celem badań było określenie różnic międzygatunkowych pod względem zawartości: Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na i K oraz kwasów tłuszczowych w mięśniach ryb: pstrąg tęczowy (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), karp (Cyprinus carpio L.) i łosoś (Salmo salar L.), zakupionych w sklepach na terenie Olsztyna. Na i K oznaczono metodą fotometrii płomieniowej. Pozostałe pierwiastki analizowano metodą AAS. Kwasy tłuszczowe oznaczono techniką chromatografii gazowej. Karp cechował się największą zawartością Mn, Fe i Ca (p ≤ 0,01). Stwierdzono, że karp stanowił również bogate źródło Zn, przy czym istotne różnice (p ≤ 0,01) wystąpiły jedynie w porównaniu z łososiem. W przypadku pozostałych oznaczanych pierwiastków nie wykazano istotnych różnic (p > 0,05) międzygatunkowych. W lipidach mięśni pstrąga tęczowego oznaczono największą zawartość nasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych (26,79 %) (p ≤ 0,05). Najwięcej kwasów monoenowych zawierały lipidy tkanki mięśniowej karpia (51,45 %) (p ≤ 0,01). Wśród nasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych dominował kwas palmitynowy (C16:0), zaś monoenowe kwasy tłuszczowe były reprezentowane przez kwas oleinowy (C18:1). Różnice zawartości n-6 polienowych kwasów tłuszczowych stwierdzono jedynie pomiędzy mięśniami karpi i łososi (p ≤ 0,05). Wśród kwasów n-6 polienowych dominował kwas linolowy (C18:2). Bogatym źródłem kwasów n-3 polienowych (19,99 % i 23,18 %) i kwasu EPA (6,04 % i 5,17 %) był łosoś i pstrąg tęczowy (p ≤ 0,01), a pstrągi zawierały istotnie więcej DHA (14,50 %) (p ≤ 0,01).The objective of the study was to determine the inter-specific differences in the contents of Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, and K, as well as in fatty acids in muscles of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), and salmon (Salmo salar L.) purchased at a market in the city of Olsztyn (Poland). Na and K were determined using an emission flame photometry. The other elements were analyzed using an AAS method. Fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography. The carp fish was characterized by the highest content of Mn, Fe, and Ca (p ≤ 0.01). Also, it was found that the carp was a rich source of Zn, and the significant differences were found only if compared to the salmon (p ≤ 0.01). As for the other elements determined, no significant interspecific differences (p > 0.05) were found. In the lipids contained in the muscles of rainbow trout examined, the highest content of saturated fatty acids (26.79 %) (p ≤ 0.05) was determined. The highest amount of monoenoic acids was reported in the lipids in the muscle tissue of carp (51.45 %) (p ≤ 0.01). Among the saturated fatty acids, the palmitic acid was a predominant fatty acid (C16:0) whereas the monoenoic fatty acids were represented by the oleic acid (C18:1). The differences in the content of n-6 polienoic fatty acids were found only between the carp and the salmon (p ≤ 0.05). The linoleic acid (C18:2) prevailed among the n-6 polienoic fatty acids. The salmon and rainbow trout (p ≤ 0.01) were a rich source of n-3 polienoic fatty acids (19.99 % and 23.18 %) and EPA (6.04 % and 5.17 %) (p ≤ 0.01) whereas the trout had significantly more DHA (14.50 %) (p ≤ 0.01)