Antioxidant concentrations in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Antioxidant concentrations are shifted in ADHD patients and antioxidant centred therapies appear to alleviate symptoms significantly1-8. This study aims to investigate antioxidant concentrations in children with ADHD of an Antwerp based population.For the ADHD-cohort, concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants (a-tocopherol, g-tocopherol, retinylpalmitate, b-carotene, CoQ10 and retinol) (plasma, n = 12) and glutathione (erythrocytes, n = 4) were measured and consecutively compared to a cohort of non-ADHD children (n = 25-53). Additionally, differences in mean concentrations were compared to literature1,7,8

Effect of Pycnogenol® on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) : study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: Methylphenidate (MPH), the first choice medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is associated with serious adverse effects like arrhythmia. Evidence on the association of ADHD with immune and oxidant-antioxidant imbalances offers potential for antioxidant and/or immunomodulatory nutritional supplements as ADHD therapy. One small randomised trial in ADHD suggests, despite various limitations, therapeutic benefit from Pycnogenol (R), a herbal, polyphenol-rich extract. Methods: This phase III trial is a 10-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo and active treatment controlled multicentre trial with three parallel treatment arms to compare the effect of Pycnogenol r to MPH and placebo on the behaviour of 144 paediatric ADHD and attention-deficit disorder (ADD) patients. Evaluations of behaviour (measured by the ADHDRating Scale (primary endpoint) and the Social-emotional Questionnaire (SEQ)), immunity (plasma cytokine and antibody levels, white blood cell counts and faecal microbial composition), oxidative stress (erythrocyte glutathione, plasma lipid-soluble vitamins and malondialdehyde and urinary 8-OHdG levels, as well as antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression), serum zinc and neuropeptide Y level, urinary catecholamines and physical complaints (Physical Complaints Questionnaire) will be performed in week 10 and compared to baseline. Acceptability evaluations will be based on adherence, dropouts and reports of adverse events. Dietary habits will be taken into account. Discussion: This trial takes into account comorbid behavioural and physical symptoms, as well as a broad range of innovative immune and oxidative biomarkers, expected to provide fundamental knowledge on ADHD aetiology and therapy. Research on microbiota in ADHD is novel. Moreover, the active control arm is rather unseen in research on nutritional supplements, but of great importance, as patients and parents are often concerned with the side effects of MPH

Physical activity in adults with controlled and uncontrolled asthma as compared to healthy adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Though exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is common among asthmatics, physical activity (PA) seems important in asthma management. Still, various studies point at avoidance of sports and certain daily life activities like walking stairs, even by patients with mild symptoms. We aimed to compare physical activity levels between healthy subjects and asthmatics with controlled and uncontrolled disease.METHODS: Data on asthma and PA were drawn from the Portuguese National Asthma Survey. The short telephone version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure PA levels. Current asthma was defined as self-reported asthma and at least one of these criteria: one or more asthma symptoms in the last twelve months, currently taking asthma medication or an asthma medical appointment in the previous twelve months. Controlled asthma was defined as a CARAT global score > 24 or a CARAT second factor score ≤ 16. Healthy subjects were defined as individuals without atopy, heart disease or any respiratory symptom. X2 and Mann-Whitney/Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to compare groups. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess relations between asthma status and PA dimensions.RESULTS: A total of 606 non-asthmatics, 125 controlled and 78 uncontrolled asthmatic subjects were included. In both genders, overall PA level did not differ significantly between groups. Controlled (men) and uncontrolled (women) asthmatics did more vigorous PA than healthy respondents. Male controlled asthmatics also did more moderate PA. Crude logistic regression showed positive relations between daily sitting time, vigorous and moderate PA and controlled asthma in men and between vigorous PA and uncontrolled asthma in women. After adjustments for confounders, moderate PA remained a predictor of controlled asthma in men, while vigorous PA doubled the risk of uncontrolled asthma in women.CONCLUSION: Our study showed that adult asthmatics, independent of asthma control, do not seem to have a more sedentary lifestyle than their peers. Nevertheless, PA should be encouraged, as only about half of them reached activity recommendations

PulseNet news ; v. 2, issue 2, spring 2003

The National Molecular Subtyping Network ofr Foodborne Disease Surveillance.State & local public health laboratories in the United States and PulseNet Canada.Welcome to Texas -- Expanding the Net to Vector Borne Diseases -- Prioritization of PFGE Subtyping -- Excess Mortality Paper -- Asia Pacific Update -- Lab Profile: Houston -- News from PulseNet National Database -- Training -- In the News/Pubs and Abstracts -- Farewells/Welcomes -- Newsletter Surve