Immediate food hypersensitivity reactions on the first known exposure to the food

We report 8 infants with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to foods (milk, egg, or peanut), occurring at the first-known exposure. Each developed symptoms within the first hour, but these generally settled within 2 hours. Sensitisation to the food concerned was demonstrated by positive immediate allergen skin prick tests in every case. Symptoms experienced included irritability, erythematous rash, urticaria, angio-oedema, vomiting, rhinorrhoea, and cough. Five infants were being followed prospectively and 4 were clinically tolerant of the food by age 16 months. The most likely route of sensitisation was via breast milk. None of the infants experienced similar reactions while being breast fed, suggesting that the reaction was dose dependent. As 5 out of a group of 80 infants being followed prospectively developed an immediate reaction at their first known exposure to a food, this appeared to be a not uncommon presentation of food hypersensitivity in infancy.     

Growth hormone resistance in uremia

Growth retardation is a major complication in children with uremia. Protein restriction, calorie deficit, metabolic acidosis, renal osteodystrophy, and endocrinologic disturbances contribute to the growth failure. The effect of these factors on growth retardation can be attenuated in part by therapy with vitamin D metabolites, adequate nutrition, alkalization, and dialysis. Linear growth in children with uremia is markedly retarded despite normal or increased levels of circulating serum growth hormone. An increased growth hormone level in children with uremia is due to normal growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland and impaired growth hormone clearance in the kidney. However, the elevated growth hormone level does not lead to a commensurate rise in serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I); the serum IGF-I level is decreased or normal in relation to the degree of renal failure. This discrepancy suggests growth hormone resistance in the liver in uremia. Recent molecular techniques open a new era in studying the gene expression for growth hormone or IGF-I. There is no doubt today that growth hormone treatment has the beneficial effect of growth promotion in children with uremia, which also suggests endogenous growth hormone resistance in target organs or target cells in uremia.     

Dihydropyridines, nitric oxide and vascular protection

For more than decades calcium antagonists (CEBs) have been widely used for the treatment of myocardial ischaemia (angina pectoris). Among the classes of CEBs, the 1,4-dihidropyridine (DHPs) have been used for this indication because of their haemodynamic and electrophysiological properties. In particular, DHPs are compounds capable of vascular protection on both smooth muscle and endothelium. The main protective activity is related to their calcium antagonist activity. In addition, they present vascular dilatation function, which has been related to an anti-endothelin efficacy. The newer DHPs are endowed with slow onset and long duration of vasodilator activity and reduce coronary resistance with little or no effect on heart rate. The more lipophilic DHP, lacidipine, is also able to reduce the formation of atheroma plaque in animal models at therapeutic doses. It has potent and long-lasting antihypertensive properties and appears to protect the arterial wall against the development of atherosclerotic lesions in animal models or human subjects with severe and multiple risk factors. Additionally, it has been observed that: i) NO/cyclic GMP pathway facilitates the inhibitory effect of Ca(++) antagonists on KCl-evoked contraction in rat aorta; ii) Vasodilator effect of lacidipine was significantly attenuated in the presence of NO-synthase inhibitors; iii) DHPs stimulate an electrochemical activity related to the nitric oxide (NO) system within the aortic vessel tissue, in rats and mice. In particular, they implement endothelial NO at "useful" and not toxic nanomolar levels. These activities join the already described positive effects of these compounds upon vascular functions.     

Can a Minimal Intervention Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Children with Asthma from Low Income Minority Families? Results of a Randomized Trial

We report on the results of a low-intensity behavioral intervention to reduce second hand smoke (SHS) exposure of children with asthma from low income minority households in Los Angeles, California. In this study, 242 child/adult dyads were randomized to a behavioral intervention (video, workbook, minimal counseling) or control condition (brochure). Main outcome measures included child’s urine cotinine and parental reports of child’s hours of SHS exposure and number of household cigarettes smoked. Implementation of household bans was also considered. No differences in outcomes were detected between intervention and control groups at follow-up. Limitations included high attrition and low rates of collection of objective measures (few children with urine cotinine samples). There continues to be a need for effective culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies that support reduction of household SHS exposure among children with asthma in low income, minority households.     

Dental caries and erosion status of 12-year-old Hong Kong children

Background

We examined the association of alcohol use disorders (AUD) with adherence to and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional multi-site survey was conducted in 468 drug users and 648 non-drug users (age: 35.4 ± 7.0 years; 63.8% male) in 3 epicentres of Vietnam. AUD, ART adherence, and HRQOL were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C), the self-reported Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-HIV BREF).

Results

35.0% of drug users were hazardous drinkers, compared to 25.9% of non-drug users. 22.3% of drug users engaged in binge drinking, and 25.9% reported suboptimal ART adherence. Adjusting for propensity scores of AUD, patients who had either at-risk or binge drinking behaviour were about twice as likely to be treatment non-adherent as those who did not have AUD. Hazardous drinkers reported small to medium decrements in the Performance, Physical, Social, Spirituality, and Environment quality of life domains. Binge drinkers had a slightly higher score in Social dimension.

Conclusion

AUD is prevalent and negatively affecting adherence to and HRQOL outcomes of ART services in injection-driven HIV epidemics. Screening and intervention are recommended for AUD, especially during the stable periods of ART. Other social and psychological interventions might also enhance patients’ responses to and outcomes of ART in Vietnam.     

The Role of Serotonin (5-HT) in Behavioral Control: Findings from Animal Research and Clinical Implications

The neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine both have a critical role in the underlying neurobiology of different behaviors. With focus on the interplay between dopamine and serotonin, it has been proposed that dopamine biases behavior towards habitual responding, and with serotonin offsetting this phenomenon and directing the balance toward more flexible, goal-directed responding. The present focus paper stands in close relationship to the publication by Worbe et al. (2015), which deals with the effects of acute tryptophan depletion, a neurodietary physiological method to decrease central nervous serotonin synthesis in humans for a short period of time, on the balance between hypothetical goal-directed and habitual systems. In that research, acute tryptophan depletion challenge administration and a following short-term reduction in central nervous serotonin synthesis were associated with a shift of behavioral performance towards habitual responding, providing further evidence that central nervous serotonin function modulates the balance between goal-directed and stimulus-response habitual systems of behavioral control. In the present focus paper, we discuss the findings by Worbe and colleagues in light of animal experiments as well as clinical implications and discuss potential future avenues for related research.     

Modeling a Predictive Energy Equation Specific for Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background: Hypermetabolism is theorized in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who are receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We aimed to distinguish key disease‐specific determinants of resting energy expenditure to create a predictive energy equation that more precisely establishes energy needs with the intent of preventing protein‐energy wasting. Materials and Methods: For this 3‐year multisite cross‐sectional study (N = 116), eligible participants were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and were receiving MHD for at least 3 months. Predictors for the model included weight, sex, age, C‐reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum creatinine. The outcome variable was measured resting energy expenditure (mREE). Regression modeling was used to generate predictive formulas and Bland‐Altman analyses to evaluate accuracy. Results: The majority were male (60.3%), black (81.0%), and non‐Hispanic (76.7%), and 23% were ≥65 years old. After screening for multicollinearity, the best predictive model of mREE (R² = 0.67) included weight, age, sex, and CRP. Two alternative models with acceptable predictability (R² = 0.66) were derived with glycosylated hemoglobin or serum creatinine. Based on Bland‐Altman analyses, the maintenance hemodialysis equation that included CRP had the best precision, with the highest proportion of participants’ predicted energy expenditure classified as accurate (61.2%) and with the lowest number of individuals with underestimation or overestimation. Conclusions: This study confirms disease‐specific factors as key determinants of mREE in patients on MHD and provides a preliminary predictive energy equation. Further prospective research is necessary to test the reliability and validity of this equation across diverse populations of patients who are receiving MHD.     

Predictors of timing of pregnancy discovery

Objective

Earlier pregnancy discovery is important in the context of prenatal and abortion care. We evaluated characteristics associated with later pregnancy discovery among women seeking abortion care.

The M-OVIN study: does switching treatment to FSH and / or IUI lead to higher pregnancy rates in a subset of women with world health organization type II anovulation not conceiving after six ovulatory cycles with clomiphene citrate – a randomised controlled trial

Background

Clomiphene citrate (CC) is first line treatment in women with World Health Organization (WHO) type II anovulation and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Whereas 60% to 85% of these women will ovulate on CC, only about one half will have conceived after six cycles. If women do not conceive, treatment can be continued with gonadotropins or intra-uterine insemination (IUI). At present, it is unclear for how many cycles ovulation induction with CC should be repeated, and when to switch to ovulation induction with gonadotropins and/or IUI.

Methods/Design

We started a multicenter randomised controlled trial in the Netherlands comparing six cycles of CC plus intercourse or six cycles of gonadotrophins plus intercourse or six cycles of CC plus IUI or six cycles of gonadotrophins plus IUI.Women with WHO type II anovulation who ovulate but did not conceive after six ovulatory cycles of CC with a maximum of 150 mg daily for five days will be included.Our primary outcome is birth of a healthy child resulting from a pregnancy that was established in the first eight months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes are clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy and treatment costs. The analysis will be performed according to the intention to treat principle. Two comparisons will be made, one in which CC is compared to gonadotrophins and one in which the addition of IUI is compared to ovulation induction only. Assuming a live birth rate of 40% after CC, 55% after addition of IUI and 55% after ovulation induction with gonadotrophins, with an alpha of 5% and a power of 80%, we need to recruit 200 women per arm (800 women in total).An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee has criticized the data of the first 150 women and concluded that a sample size re-estimation should be performed after including 320 patients (i.e. 80 per arm).

Discussion

The trial will provide evidence on the most effective, safest and most cost effective treatment in women with WHO type II anovulation who do not conceive after six ovulatory cycles with CC with a maximum of 150 mg daily for five days. This evidence could imply the need for changing our guidelines, which may cause a shift in large practice variation to evidence based primary treatment for these women.

Trial registration number

Netherlands Trial register NTR1449