Role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in a murine model of toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma

BACKGROUND: Adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are thought to contribute to the airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) of allergic asthma. Some differences from allergic asthma have been noted, including airway neutrophilia, and the involvement of ICAM-1 in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) asthma is currently unclear. OBJECTIVE: We utilized mice lacking ICAM-1 expression (ICAM-1(-/-)) to investigate the role of ICAM-1 in airway inflammation and AHR in TDI-induced asthma. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice (ICAM-1(+/+)) and ICAM-1(-/-) mice were intranasally sensitized to TDI solution or solvent alone. Airway inflammation, AHR and cytokine secretion were assessed 24 h after challenge by TDI or solvent. The production of antigen-specific IgG and IgE by TDI sensitized and non-sensitized mice was determined. RESULTS: TDI challenge to ICAM-1(+/+) mice induced an increase in airway inflammatory cell numbers, AHR and cytokine secretion of TNF-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. All these pathophysiological changes were reduced in ICAM-1(-/-) mice. Serum levels of TDI-specific IgG and IgE of ICAM-1(-/-) and ICAM-1(+/+) mice were comparable. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ICAM-1 plays an essential role in airway inflammation and AHR in TDI-induced asthma.     

Dermatitis from hexavalent chromate in the accelerator of an epoxy sealant (PR1422) used in the aircraft industry

4 aircraft construction workers developed allergic contact dermatitis of the hands and forearms. The allergen was hexavalent chromate in the accelerating solution of an epoxy-based sealant (PR1422). Although chromate dermatitis from an epoxy resin has been described, epoxy system accelerators are a hitherto unrecognized source of occupational chromate dermatitis.     

Patterns of asbestosis in New Jersey.

Hospital discharge data from New Jersey were used to identify cases of asbestosis for the 8 years 1979-1986. Multiple admissions were deleted so that each individual was counted once at the time of his/her first hospitalization with an asbestosis diagnosis. White males had the highest age-adjusted average annual discharge rate of 19.3 cases/100,000 population, followed by black males (12.3 cases/100,000) and white females (1.2 cases/100,000). The discharge rate was positively associated with age in each race/sex category. The relationship between rates for black males and white males depended on age: under 65 years, the rates were almost equal, and at 65 years and older, the white rates were nearly twice the black rates. There were two areas of the state where the rates were highest: the north-central and southwest regions. These two areas represent manufacturing and shipbuilding applications of asbestos, respectively. During the years 1979-1986, the annual percentage increase in asbestosis rates was 20% for white males, 17% for black males, and 8% for white females. Continued surveillance will reveal when the rates for asbestosis stop increasing.     

Intimacy and mental disorder in late middle age. Report of the TURVA project

This study, which was carried out as part of the TURVA project on psychosocial adaptation in old age, is concerned with the significance of social support to people approaching retirement age. The population consisted of 200 urban dwellers and 189 rural dwellers, who were studied at the age of 62. The subjects were either about to retire in the near future or had already retired, and it was assumed that this event causes a certain amount of stress, which may lead to mental disturbance regardless of the amount of social support available to the individual. Intimate relationship and close friendship served as the measures of social support. Mental disturbances were assessed on the basis of the General Health Questionnaire (36-item version) and the number of psychic and especially depressive symptoms. The prevalence of mental disturbance and depressive symptoms was lowest in those people who lived in a close marital relationship and who also described their spouse as empathic. Psychic symptoms were most common in those people who said their relationship to their spouse was distant and who described them as unempathic. The subjects who were not married fell in-between these 2 groups regardless of whether they had an intimate relationship with someone of the opposite sex. A positive marital relationship seemed to provide a shield against depression, while a negative marital relationship tended to make the individual more vulnerable to depression. The role of a close non-marital friendship depended on the respondent's sex. In women, it was associated with a high prevalence of depressive symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

'Well-being': health promotion's red herring

‘Well-being’ is frequently said to be the ultimategoal of health promotion. However, health promotion author itiesdo no: offer a clear definition of ‘well-being’.Instead health promoters either assume a causal relationshipbetween their activities and the increase of ‘well-being’or claim privileged knowledge of ‘well-being’ andits means of production, or both. These health promotion strategiesare questioned, and it is suggested that the use of ‘well-being’in health promotion acts to obscure the analysis of health promotionphilosophy and practice. It is concluded that either the term‘well-being’ should be given clear and substantialcontent, or it should be discarded by health promoters. Thelatter option is favoured.     

Health‐related quality of life in multiple system atrophy

Although multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to progressive disability and decreased life expectancy, little is known about patients' own evaluation of their illness and factors associated with poor health‐related quality of life (Hr‐QoL). We, therefore, assessed Hr‐QoL and its determinants in MSA. The following scales were applied to 115 patients in the European MSA‐Study Group (EMSA‐SG) Natural History Study: Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF‐36), EQ‐5D, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mini‐Mental state examination (MMSE), Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS), Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) Parkinson's disease staging scale, Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS), and Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS). Forty‐six percent of patients had moderate to severe depression (BDI ≥ 17); Hr‐QoL scores on the SF‐36 and EQ‐5D were significantly impaired. Pain, the only domain with similar scores in MSA and published PD patients, was reported more frequently in patients with MSA‐P (predominantly parkinsonian motor subtype) than MSA‐C (predominantly cerebellar motor subtype; 76% vs. 50%; P = 0.005). Hr‐QoL scores correlated most strongly with UMSARS motor, COMPASS, and BDI scores but not with MMSE scores, age at onset, or disease duration. The COMPASS and UMSARS activities of daily living scores were moderate‐to‐strong predictors for the SF‐36 physical summary score and the BDI and UMSARS motor scores for the SF‐36 mental summary score. This report is the first study to show that Hr‐QoL is significantly impaired in MSA. Although not all possible factors related to impaired Hr‐QoL in MSA could be assessed, autonomic dysfunction, motor impairment, and depression were most closely associated with poor Hr‐QoL, and therapeutic management, therefore, should concentrate upon these aspects of the disease. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society     

Lung Transplant Recipients Holding Companion Animals: Impact on Physical Health and Quality of Life

Since lung transplant recipients are susceptible to infections and inhaled pollution, many centers warn against pets. However, data supporting this recommendation are lacking. Our program is less restrictive regarding pets. This study, for the first time, investigates the association of pets with physiological and psychological parameters in these patients. A questionnaire concerning pets was sent to 104 lung transplant recipients. Lung function tests, levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)), need for antibiotic treatments and hospitalizations, creatinine clearance, body mass index (BMI) and demographic data were assessed. Additionally, the questionnaire of life satisfaction (FLZ), a question on summarized life satisfaction (LS), the life orientation test (LOT), the hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) and the social support questionnaire (F-SozU) were assessed. Response rate was 86%. Fifty-two percent defined themselves as pet owners, whereas 48% did not. The two groups did not differ in demographic or physiological data. Significant differences in FLZ (79/65, p = 0.04), in LS (4.3/3.9, p = 0.01), LOT (32/29, p = 0.006) and F-SozU (4.5/4.2, p = 0.04) were found in favor of pet owners. In lung transplant recipients keeping pets the frequency of somatic complications is not higher compared to lung transplant recipients without pets. After lung transplantation, pets are associated with a better quality of life.     

Functional outcome and general health status in patients after arthroscopic release in adhesive capsulitis

Frozen shoulder is said to be a self-limiting entity but full recovery often takes more than 2 years. For that, most patients are unwilling to tolerate painful restriction while awaiting resolution. We prospectively investigated 30 patients (16 women, 14 men) for the outcome of arthroscopic capsular release in idiopathic frozen shoulder. Results were determined by the assessment of subjective and objective parameters to estimate both shoulder function and general health status. Symptoms persisted without improvement for a minimum of 6 months of conservative treatment. Preoperative average American shoulder and elbow surgeons score (ASES) was 35, visual analog scale (VAS) to measure pain was 7, and simple shoulder test (SST) was 4. Mean scores of the physical component of SF-36 were considerably reduced. Mean forward elevation was 85°, average abduction was 70°, mean internal rotation was 15°, and mean external rotation was 10°. Patients were followed-up at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 months and by a mean of 36 months. Range of motion for all planes improved (P < 0.05). Median VAS reduced to 2, average ASES increased to 91, and SST enhanced to a mean of 10 (P < 0.05). We stated improvement of the physical components in the SF-36 questionnaire in particular bodily pain and the role-physical score. There were no significant differences between the measurements in the early postoperative phase compared to the mid-term follow-up (P > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that arthroscopic release of refractory idiopathic frozen shoulder combined with a gentle manipulation provides reliable expectations for improvement in both clinical and general health status for most patients. We recommend the use of a limb-specific and a general-health-status questionnaire to conclude the benefit of the surgical intervention and contribute the optimization of a therapy concept more effectively.