Influence of mattress characteristics on house dust mite allergen concentration

BACKGROUND: Exposure to a high level of house dust mite allergens (HDMAs) is considered as a risk factor for HDM sensitization and development of asthma in genetically disposed people. Mattresses are one of the most important sources of HDMA in people's living environment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between mattress characteristics and HDMA concentrations on mattresses. METHODS: Dust samples of mattress surfaces were taken to evaluate the level of Der p 1 allergen. All participants filled in a questionnaire about the type of mattress, the type of covering (upper layer) of the mattress, dwelling characteristics and cleaning habits. Humidity and temperature of the bedroom were measured at the time of dust sampling. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-eight questionnaires were filled in. Synthetic upper layer of the mattress was associated with a higher level of Der p 1 compared with cotton upper layer (2.6 vs. 0.8 microg/g Der p 1). Moreover, higher relative humidity (RH) was associated with significant higher concentrations and density of Der p 1. CONCLUSIONS: Two factors were associated with lower levels of Der p 1 found on mattresses, namely: a cotton upper layer of the mattress compared with a layer of synthetic material and lower RH at the time of sampling. As far as we know, the association between type of upper layer and concentration of Der p 1 has not been described before and could lead to the formulation of practical advices in order to reduce HDMA concentrations on mattresses.     

Asymptomatic autoimmune chronic active hepatitis in a male adolescent

We report a 12-year-old boy presenting with smooth muscle antibody-positive auto-immune chronic active hepatitis. Suspicion of the diagnosis arose after a routine blood test which revealed abnormal liver function tests. In spite of the presence of cirrhosis and patchy necrosis on liver biopsy, our patient never showed any clinical feature of impaired liver function. This observation demonstrates that auto-immune hepatitis may exist for a long time before clinical symptoms appear and probably explains why some cases of auto-immune hepatitis finally present as fulminant liver failure.     

Photopatch testing: a consensus methodology for Europe

A group of interested European Contact Dermatologists/Photobiologists met to produce a consensus statement on methodology, test materials and interpretation of photopatch testing. While it is recognized that a range of local variables operate throughout Europe, the underlying purpose of the work is to act as an essential preamble to a Pan European Photopatch Test Study focusing particularly on sunscreen chemicals.     

Spinal arachnoiditis mimicking a spinal cord tumor: a case report and review of the literature.

We report on an unusual case of idiopathic arachnoiditis mimicking a spinal cord tumor in a 50-year-old man with progressive paraparesis. The medical imaging work-up showed an enlarged terminal cone with adjacent cysts. Although there was no enhancement of the terminal cone or the surrounding structures, the diagnosis of spinal cord tumor was maintained and surgery was carried out. Exploration of the cauda equina and the tissue surrounding the terminal cone did not reveal a tumor. The patient improved dramatically after surgery but the symptoms recurred 1 year later. We review arachnoiditis, its pathology, and its treatment with special attention drawn to the primary form of spinal arachnoiditis.     

Dietary sodium variation, erythrocyte cationic transport and plasma renin-aldosterone in men

Erythrocyte concentrations and fluxes of sodium and potassium were investigated in normal white male subjects during dietary sodium restriction and repletion, each period lasting for 16 weeks. Intraerythrocyte sodium concentration decreased and red cell ouabain-sensitive 86Rubidium-uptake increased during dietary sodium restriction while no significant changes were observed in the total, furosemide-resistant and furosemide-sensitive sodium-efflux and the sodium, lithium-countertransport. The decrease in intraerythrocyte sodium concentration could have resulted from the observed increase in sodium, potassium-ATPase pump activity. The latter increase could have been secondary to the early decrease in a digitalis-like plasma inhibitor and the later increase could have been facilitated by the late rise in the intracellular adenosine triphosphate concentration, which is the energy supplier for this pump. During the subsequent first month of sodium repletion intraerythrocyte sodium concentration remained low. Red cell ouabain-sensitive 86Rubidium-uptake and adenosine triphosphate concentration remained elevated and returned to baseline only after 16 weeks. This long-term effect suggests either the involvement of a mechanism which can only be slowly reversible or a mechanism which is irreversible so that normalization takes place only when new red cells are released into the circulation.     

Effect of an education and activation programme on functional limitations and patient-perceived recovery in acute and sub-acute shoulder complaints – a randomised clinical trial

Background  

The education and activation programme (EAP) aims at coping with psychosocial determinants to prevent the development of chronic shoulder complaints (SCs). The effect of the EAP on functional limitations and patient-perceived recovery after 6 and 26 weeks is evaluated in a randomised clinical trial.     

Uroscopy in the 21st century: high-field NMR spectroscopy

From the experiments described, it can be seen that there are different research approaches that can be taken and these are summarized in Table 1. Whereas much scientific research is principally hypothesis led, there remains, nevertheless, an important place for exploratory research. High resolution NMR can measure, directly and simultaneously, a wide range of endogenous metabolites in biological fluids and has the unique capability of providing structural information on the metabolites detected. It has proved to be a powerful research tool with which to study inherited metabolic diseases, renal disease, drug metabolism, and toxicity, and can be used to monitor the effects of drug therapy. For instance, by using a library of experimental toxins one can map the metabolic profile of site-specific nephron injury. With this approach in man one could eventually take an unknown disease such as Balkan nephropathy and predict the initial site of tubular injury, the mode of injury and therefore the kind of toxin capable of producing that injury. NMR spectroscopic techniques are still advancing rapidly, with ever increasing sensitivity and sophistication of NMR pulse sequences to enhance structural elucidation in complex mixtures. Given the advances in directly coupled HPLC-NMR and even HPLC-NMR-mass spectroscopy it is likely that these technologies in conjunction with pattern recognition will make major contribution to our understanding of renal processes and provide new diagnostic insights in the 21st century.