Gastroesophageal reflux disease. When antacids aren't enough

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a very common condition that is usually manifested by heartburn or regurgitation. Reflux esophagitis, caused by mucosal exposure to the backflow of caustic gastric contents, is primarily a result of lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction. Diagnostic workup varies but commonly includes esophagoscopy, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, and radiography of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Treatment, which progresses from simple life-style changes and antacids to histamine2 receptor antagonists to omeprazole (Prilosec) or surgery, is tailored to individual needs and is generally successful.     

Preference awareness education as stress management training for academic staff

This paper describes a response directed stress management intervention (SMI) in the form of a Jungian based preference awareness education (PAE). It uses the Insights System of personality types to increase awareness of behaviour and communication preferences of self and different others. Eighteen self‐recruited academic employees participated for 7 weeks and received feedback about work preferences and personality type. The aim was to reduce perceptions of stress and interpersonal stress and to increase feelings of job satisfaction and interpersonal satisfaction. The data were analysed using two‐tailed t‐tests. No significant findings were observed for the total sample after training, however, interesting results were found for certain sub‐sample groups. Extravert‐thinking types, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.018), and participants suffering high stress/interpersonal stress pre‐PAE, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.010–0.018). Participants suffering low job/interpersonal satisfaction pre‐PAE, reported increased job satisfaction (p > 0.015–0.016). These results suggest that individuals who report high levels of stress and dissatisfaction are most likely to benefit from this type of intervention. Future PAE research might: (a) use pilot studies to meet the intervention preferences of employees that are reluctant to participate in SMIs; (b) include a wait‐list control group; use: (c) a follow up education/measures; (d) and organizational level (stressor directed) SMIs at the same time as response directed initiatives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of pancreas transplantation on cardiorespiratory reflexes, nerve conduction, and mortality in diabetes mellitus

Cardiorespiratory reflexes (CRR) were studied by measuring heart-rate variation during 6 breaths/min respiration and a Valsalva maneuver in 232 insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Abnormalities were found in 175 patients. During a 7-yr follow-up, 41 (23.4%) patients with abnormal and 2 (3.5%) with normal CRR tests died. The mortality rates of diabetic patients with abnormal autonomic function tests were 17% at 2.5 yr, 33% at 5 yr, and 40% at 7 yr, significantly higher (P less than 0.002) than in patients with normal tests (rates of 4.6, 4.6, and 13.8% at the respective intervals). Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were indicative of somatic neuropathy in 148 of 205 patients. Mortality rates were higher in patients with abnormal NCS than in those with normal results (P less than 0.025). Among patients with abnormal autonomic function, patients with a functioning pancreas transplantation (PTx) had better survival rates than patients with a failed PTx (P less than 0.005) and, on long-term follow-up, better rates than patients without PTx. Similar results were found comparing the same group of patients who had abnormal NCS.     

Injection of botulinum A toxin into the gastrocnemius muscle of patients with cerebral palsy: a 3-dimensional motion analysis study

Botulinum A toxin (BOTOX^®) was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of 26 cerebral palsy subjects with equinus gait. All subjects were equinus walkers without fixed contracture of the triceps-surae muscle. Injections were performed at 3 month intervals, if needed, as determined by the treating clinician. There were 14 subjects with spastic hemiplegia, 11 subjects with spastic diplegia and 1 subject with spastic quadriplegia. In the case of those subjects with bilateral equinus gait the dose was divided and given into both the right and left gastrocnemius muscle. Gait analysis data was collected prior to the first injection and subsequently at 3 month intervals for 1 year. Kinematic and electromyographic data was obtained. This data was analyzed to provide objective information about the outcome of treatment. Four subjects moved away and were lost to follow-up. Seven subjects left the study to have surgery. The data collected revealed statistically significant improvements in dynamic ankle dorsiflexion in both stance and swing phases, stride length, and electromyography of the tibialis anterior. There were no complications. While the results of this study are promising, additional prospective studies are needed to determine the feasibility of preventing muscle contractures over a longer time period. Furthermore, there is a need for inclusion of other muscles in future research. Future research should also compare BOTOX^® treatment with alternative methods of dealing with muscle spasticity such as: casting, orthotic devices, physical therapy, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and surgical lengthening.     

Latex allergy: towards immunotherapy for health care workers

Latex allergy is an important allergic disease for which safe and readily available immunotherapy is currently lacking. Despite advances in latex glove technology and reduction in allergen content, there remains a core of severely allergic health care workers (HCW), particularly with concominant food allergy, for whom allergen avoidance is insufficient. Current experience with immunotherapy using crude latex extracts has shown an unacceptable level of local and systemic side-effects. Latex allergens are extremely potent with a heightened capacity to cross-link effector cell-bound IgE and induce anaphylaxis. The predominant pattern of allergen reactivity among HCW is different from that among children with spina bifida, perhaps due to exposure to latex glove proteins, particularly via inhalation, rather than particle bound latex proteins present in urinary catheters. Recent studies using purified skin testing reagents have indicated that the most clinically important latex allergens amongst HCW are Hev b 5, 6 and 7. Elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the immune response to these allergens is pivotal to facilitate the search for safer immunotherapy of latex allergy among HCW.