The effect of outdoor fungal spore concentrations on daily asthma severity.

The relationship between day-to-day changes in asthma severity and combined exposures to community air pollutants and aeroallergens remains to be clearly defined. We examined the effects of outdoor air pollutants, fungi, and pollen on asthma. Twenty-two asthmatics ages 9-46 years were followed for 8 weeks (9 May-3 July 1994) in a semirural Southern California community around the air inversion base elevation (1,200 ft). Daily diary responses included asthma symptom severity (6 levels), morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), and as-needed beta-agonist inhaler use. Exposures included 24-hr outdoor concentrations of fungi, pollen, and particulate matter with a diameter < 10 microns (PM10; maximum = 51 micrograms/m3) and 12-hour day-time personal ozone (O3) measurements (90th percentile = 38 ppb). Random effects longitudinal regression models controlled for autocorrelation and weather. Higher temperatures were strongly protective, probably due to air conditioning use and diminished indoor allergens during hot, dry periods. Controlling for weather, total fungal spore concentrations were associated with all outcomes: per minimum to 90th percentile increase of nearly 4,000 spores/m3, asthma symptom scores increased 0.36 (95% CI, 0.16-0.56), inhaler use increased 0.33 puffs (95% CI, -0.02-0.69), and evening PEFR decreased 12.1 l/min (95% CI, -1.8-22.3). These associations were greatly enhanced by examining certain fungal types (e.g., Alternaria, basidiospores, and hyphal fragments) and stratifying on 16 asthmatics allergic to tested deuteromycete fungi. There were no significant associations to low levels of pollen or O3, but inhaler use was associated with PM10 (0.15 inhaler puffs/10 micrograms/m3; p < 0.02). These findings suggest that exposure to fungal spores can adversely effect the daily respiratory status of some asthmatics.     

Factors predicting mortality in midlife adults with and without Down syndrome living with family

Background Little is known about the mortality of individuals with Down syndrome who have lived at home with their families throughout their lives. The current study evaluates the predictors, causes and patterns of mortality among co‐residing individuals in midlife with Down syndrome as compared with co‐residing individuals with ID owing to other causes. Method This paper examines mortality in 169 individuals with and 292 individuals without Down syndrome from 1988 to 2007. Dates and causes of death were obtained from maternal report, the Social Security Death Index and the National Death Index. Risk factors predicting mortality, including demographic variables, transition variables, and initial and change measures of health, functional abilities and behaviour problems, were obtained from maternal report. Results Having Down syndrome is a risk factor of mortality, net of other risk factors including older age, poorer functional abilities, worsening behaviour problems, residential relocation and parental death. The causes of death among individuals with and without Down syndrome who are in midlife and co‐residing with their families are similar, and are most commonly due to cardiovascular or respiratory problems. Conclusions The findings indicate that midlife adults with Down syndrome who co‐reside with their families generally exhibit similar causes of mortality as do midlife adults with intellectual disability owing to other causes, but show an elevated risk of mortality in midlife net of other variables, such as age and changes in functional abilities and behaviour problems.     

Proximal femoral focal deficiency: radiologic analysis of 49 cases

Proximal femoral focal deficiency, an uncommon congenital anomaly, necessitates early radiologic classification for surgical planning and treatment. Objective radiographic criteria, including femoral length index, acetabular depth index, acetabular angle index, and shape of the proximal femur were determined in 49 patients before cartilaginous ossification of the femoral capital epiphysis; final classification was based on follow-up radiographs or findings at arthrography or surgery. These parameters were analyzed to determine the accuracy and contributions of each in classification. Correct classification into one of three groups was possible in 86% of cases with use of three of the parameters: femoral length index, acetabular depth index, and shape of the proximal femur. The acetabular angle was found to contribute insignificantly to classification. Magnetic resonance imaging, used in only one case, depicted the nonossified cartilaginous femoral capital epiphysis, thus obviating the need for invasive diagnostic procedures and facilitating early classification.     

The effect of neonatal capsaicin treatment on gustatory behavior in the albino rat.

Small-diameter fibers present in gustatory peripheral nerves have historically been suspected of relaying information about the bitter quality of a taste stimulus. Neonatally injected capsaicin irreversibly destroys a proportion of unmyelinated C- and some A delta-fibers. Consummatory responses to increasing concentrations of quinine and other chemical solutions following neonatal capsaicin injection were compared to those of untreated and vehicle-injected control Sabra albino rats. Capsaicin-treated rats significantly increased their withdrawal thresholds to noxious, CO2 laser-generated heat pulses verifying treatment effectiveness. Furthermore, neonatal capsaicin treatment diminished sensitivity to pungent capsaicin solutions in mature rats. However, there were no group differences in quinine intake, suggesting that the full array of unmyelinated fibers associated with taste buds is not essential for the transmission of bitter taste. Capsaicin-treated animals showed a significant reduction in intake of normally highly preferred sodium chloride and sucrose concentrations. These results were probably not due to loss of peripheral unmyelinated afferent fibers per se, but rather to secondary central changes.     

Congenital adrenal hypoplasia and selective absence of pituitary luteinizing hormone: a new autosomal recessive syndrome

Congenital hypoplasia of the adrenal glands (CHA) is a rare condition, particularly in the absence of a central nervous system (CNS) anomaly. Two major types of CHA have been described in the setting of an apparently normal CNS and pituitary: a cytomegalic type usually with X-linked recessive inheritance and a miniature adult type that, when hereditary, is an autosomal recessive trait. Glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) is an X-linked recessive trait, and it may be associated with CHA and adrenal insufficiency, presumably because of deletion of adjacent X-linked loci. We report on three sibling infants, one male and two females, with normal CNS and lethal CHA of the miniature adult type, selective absence of pituitary LH; two of the infants also had glycerol kinase (GK) activity that was decreased but not in the GKD range. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of X chromosome markers located at Xp21-p22 was carried out on the maternal grandfather, both parents, two of three affected infants, and a living normal brother. The results excluded the X-linked type of this disorder associated with GKD in this family. Autosomal recessive inheritance is most likely.     

Evaluation of the dehydration-rehydration method for production of contrast-carrying liposomes

We measured the amounts of three types of radiographic contrast media (RCM) that could be entrapped in liposomes prepared by the dehydration-rehydration vesicle (DRV) technique. To make DRVs, one initially makes water-containing, small unilamellar vesicles, adds contrast media and lyophilizes the mixture. Upon rehydration, the DRVs re-form, passively entrapping RCM. Diatrizoate, iohexol and iotrolan proved to be entrappable in similar amounts (diatrizoate was best), but all of these amounts were less than for other small molecules, such as carboxyfluorescein (P less than 0.05). Entrapment was directly proportional to lipid concentration (r = 0.76; P less than 0.002), and inversely related to iodine concentration (r = 0.86; P less than 0.002). Under ideal conditions with neutral lipids, 19.45 +/- 9.9% of diatrizoate was entrapped, corresponding to 1.05 +/- 0.50 g I per g lipid. These values are close to those achievable for large unilamellar vesicles. Use of an automated mixing device (the Microfluidizer) in place of sonication, facilitated production of large liposome batches and improved entrapment (P less than 0.05). Computed tomography (CT) scans of rats showed 30 and 218 HU of liver and spleen enhancement, respectively, per g I/kg injected DRVs. These studies showed this method (possible augmented by the Microfluidizer) allows efficient production of contrast-carrying liposomes.