Elevated cytokine levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

This study compared production of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-13, IL-5 and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 children with autism spectrum disorder to those from matched controls. Levels of all Th2 cytokines were significantly higher in cases after incubation in media alone, but the IFN-gamma/IL-13 ratio was not significantly different between cases and controls. Cases had significantly higher IL-13/IL-10 and IFN-gamma/IL-10 than controls. Conclusion: Children with ASD had increased activation of both Th2 and Th1 arms of the adaptive immune response, with a Th2 predominance, and without the compensatory increase in the regulatory cytokine IL-10.     

Safety and acceptability of a baggy latex condom

A total of 104 couples participated in a randomized crossover trial to compare a new baggy condom with a straight-shaft condom produced by the same manufacturer. Participants completed a coital log after using each condom. All couples used five condoms of each type. Among 102 couples who did not report major deviations from the protocol, the breakage rate was eight of 510 (1.6%) for the baggy condom, and six of 510 (1.2%) for the standard condom (rate difference, RD = 0. 4%, 95% confidence interval of the RD, CI = -1.0%; +1.8%). Slippage was reported in 50 baggy condom logs and in 58 standard condom logs; the slippage rate was 50 of 510 (9.8%) for the baggy condom, and 58 of 510 (11.4%) for the standard condom (RD = -1.6%, 95% CI = -5.4%; +2.2%). Slippage was most often partial (<1 inch) and may not indicate condom failure. Severe slippage rates were 11 of 510 (2.2%) for the baggy condom, and 18 of 510 (3.5%) for the standard condom (RD = -1.4%, 95% CI = -3.4%; +0.7%). The findings support the conclusion that the two condoms are equivalent with respect to breakage and slippage. The participants appeared to prefer the baggy condom, suggesting that the new product may be more acceptable to the public than the traditional straight-shaft condoms, and may be easier to use consistently over long time periods.     

The role of CMV inflammatory genes in hearing loss.

HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that virally encoded immunomodulatory genes play a role in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: Cytomegalovirus is the leading cause of infectious-related congenital sensorineural hearing loss worldwide. Unfortunately, little is known about the pathophysiology of CMV-related injury to the developing ear. METHODS: Viral mutagenesis techniques were developed that allow the deletion of a specific viral immunomodulatory gene, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1alpha homolog. We assessed the extent to which this gene product contributed to auditory pathologic findings in the guinea pig (GP) model. Eighteen weanling GPs (250-350 g) were used under an Institutional Animal Control and Use Committee-approved protocol. We analyzed preinoculation hearing using auditory brainstem response recordings. Intracochlear inoculations were performed on one group of six GPs with sterile viral media, 6 GPs with wild-type (WT) CMV virus, and 6 GPs with mutant "knockout" (KO) virus (with deleted MIP-1alpha homolog). Auditory brainstem responses were then obtained on postinoculation Days 7, 14, 21, and 28. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in hearing between the KO group and the WT group, with significantly better hearing in the KO group. A comparison of the KO group to the sham group revealed no significant hearing differences between the groups. The WT group had significant threshold shifts by dose at all frequencies meeting our criteria of hearing loss (>30 dB). There were no statistical differences in the sham or KO group. CONCLUSION: Virally encoded immunomodulatory genes such as MIP-1alpha seem to play a significant role in CMV-related hearing loss. This study is the first demonstration of the role of specific viral immune modulation genes in the in vivo pathogenesis of CMV-induced hearing loss in a relevant animal model.     

The Influence of Socioeconomic Markers on the Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Conditions Among Children

Objectives. We evaluated the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on hospital admissions for respiratory conditions associated with ambient particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in children aged 1 to 9 years in 12 California counties, from 2000 to 2005.Methods. We linked daily hospital admissions for respiratory conditions (acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and asthma) to meteorological, air pollution, and census data.Results. In San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties, the admission rates for children associated with PM2.5 ranged from 1.03 to 1.07 for combined respiratory conditions and 1.03 to 1.08 for asthma in regions with lower SES. We observed 2 distinct patterns of the influence of the composite SES Townsend index. In lower-SES South Coast areas, PM2.5-associated hospital admission rates for all respiratory outcomes were predominantly positive whereas results in the Central Valley were variable, often tending toward the null.Conclusions. These distinct patterns could be attributed to the heterogeneity of regional confounders as well as the seasonal variation of emission sources of PM2.5. Composite SES is one potential factor for increasing susceptibility to air pollution.Growing evidence demonstrates that exposure to ambient particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) may be associated with increases in respiratory symptoms and prevalence of asthma in children.1–4 Children, especially those with preexisting respiratory conditions, may be more affected by ambient PM2.5 than adults.5 Children are more active and spend more time outdoors, which contributes to their potential for breathing a greater amount of polluted air per pound of body weight than adults.5,6 Biologically, the peripheral airways in children are more susceptible to inflammation when exposed to polluted air, which leads to greater airway obstruction than in adults.7Adding to the public health concern for children and their vulnerability to air pollution, epidemiological studies have revealed that low socioeconomic status (SES) may be associated with different air pollution impacts. A study by Lynch et al.8 found that persons of lower SES have a generally higher mortality rate than more advantaged persons. To date, most of the epidemiological studies on air pollution exposures have mainly focused on adult mortality rates9–12 and childhood asthma hospital admissions.13–16 Studies have shown that low-income families have a higher likelihood of living in older areas and live in high-traffic areas, leading to an increased likelihood of exposure to air toxins and higher ambient PM2.5 compared with high-income families.17 Questions, however, still remain regarding the role SES plays in the association between ambient PM2.5 and poor respiratory health. For children, a key question is the contribution of low SES to a child’s respiratory health in conjunction with a higher rate of exposure to ambient air pollution.5–7 Few studies have focused on morbidity among children in relation to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 using a time-series approach. This is probably because the number of hospital admissions for pediatric morbidity is often insufficient for such an analysis.To assess the relationship among SES, acute PM2.5 exposure, and childhood morbidity, we obtained daily hospital admissions and PM2.5 data for the Central Valley and the South Coast regions of California. We also explored which single or composite socioeconomic measures can be used to evaluate socioeconomic inequality in children. We then evaluated the modifying effect of the selected single or composite socioeconomic variables on the association between daily ambient PM2.5 and hospital admissions for respiratory conditions among children from ages 1 to 9 years in 12 counties in the Central Valley and the South Coast regions from 2000 to 2005.