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Selected AbstractsChronic neuropathic pain: mechanisms, drug targets and measurementFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Nanna B. Finnerup Abstract Neuropathic pain is common in many diseases or injuries of the peripheral or central nervous system, and has a substantial impact on quality of life and mood. Lesions of the nervous system may lead to potentially irreversible changes and imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory systems. Preclinical research provides several promising targets for treatment such as sodium and calcium channels, glutamate receptors, monoamines and neurotrophic factors; however, treatment is often insufficient. A mechanism-based treatment approach is suggested to improve treatment. Valid and reliable tools to assess various symptoms and signs in neuropathic pain and knowledge of drug mechanisms are prerequisites for pursuing this approach. The present review summarizes mechanisms of neuropathic pain, targets of currently used drugs, and measures used in neuropathic pain trials. [source] Death of the first white resident of North QueenslandINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2008D. Bossingham Abstract The first white resident of North Queensland's death certificate gives the final illness as ,arthritis'. This examination of contemporary records and more recent reports, together with the results of discussion with colleagues interested in medicine and history, attempts to suggest the reasons for his various symptoms and his final demise. This life story is reminiscent of a ,Boy's own' adventure with shipwrecks, survival at sea, coexistence with Aboriginal tribesmen before returning to ,white society', marriage and the start of a family. Are there lessons here for the twenty-first century physician and rheumatologist? Would the commonplace illnesses of mid nineteenth-century Queensland be very different to the problems seen in our outpatient clinics today? [source] Comparison of immune responses in mice infected with different strains of Strongyloides venezuelensisPARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 11 2007E. R. MACHADO SUMMARY In human hosts and in murine models, the immune response to Strongyloides spp. is Th2 type. In addition, the profile of the host immune response follows various symptoms induced by Strongyloides spp. In the present study, we demonstrated that the L2 and L49 strains of Strongyloides venezuelensis obtained from Bolomys lasiurus and Nectomys squamipes induced significant and similar increases in eosinophil/mononuclear cell counts in the blood, peritoneal cavity fluid and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid when compared with uninfected mice. However, in the first 3 days of infection, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-, levels were higher in the lungs of mice infected with the L2 strain, which also presented greater production of IgG and IgG1 than did mice infected with the L49 strain. The higher antibody and cytokine levels induced by the L2 strain correlated with a decrease in the number of female parasites recovered in the faeces of mice on post-infection day 7. The results demonstrate that the L2 strain was a more potent stimulant of the humoral immune response, which can result in more efficient antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, a mechanism involved in eosinophil activation and parasite elimination. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the molecular differences among parasites. [source] Forced inspiratory flow volume curve in healthy young childrenPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Daphna Vilozni PhD Abstract Introduction Spirometry testing should include both expiratory and inspiratory measurements. Inspiratory forced maneuvers can demonstrate extrathoracic airway abnormalities, of which various symptoms may suggest asthma. However, the inspiratory portion of the forced flow/volume maneuver in young healthy children has not yet been described. Objectives To document and analyze the forced inspiratory flow volume curve indices in healthy young children. Settings and Participants Healthy preschool children (age 2.5,6.5 years) from community kindergartens around Israel. Methods The teaching method included multi-target, interactive spirometry games and accessory games for inspiration (e.g., inspiratory whistle). Results One hundred and fourteen out of a total of 157 children performed duplicate full adequate inspiratory maneuvers. Repeatability between two maneuvers was 5.6%, 4.0%, 5.1%, 7.3% for inspiratory capacity (IC), forced inspiratory vital capacity (FIVC), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), and mid inspiratory flow (FIF50). Inspiratory flow indices were significantly lower than the expiratory flow indices. The time to reach PIF was significantly longer (mean,±,SD; 229,±,21 msec) than the time to reach peak expiratory flow (92,±,8 msec; P,<,0.0001). The shape of the inspiratory curve was parabolic and did not vary with age. The formed predicted equations were in agreement with the extrapolated values for older healthy children. Conclusions The majority of healthy young children can perform reliable maximum inspiratory flow volume curves. Our results provide a framework of reference equations for maximum inspiratory flow volume curve in the young children. The clinical applications of these equations have to be explored. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:105,111. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Neurobiological Alterations Associated With Traumatic StressPERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE, Issue 3 2007Sandra J. Weiss PhD PURPOSE.,The purpose of this article is to describe the effects of traumatic stress on brain structure and function, and the relationship of these neurobiological changes to symptoms experienced after trauma. CONCLUSIONS.,Exposure to traumatic stress is associated with changes in the limbic system, the hypothalamic,pituitary,adrenal axis, and key monoamine neurotransmitters. Different neurobiological alterations can be linked to specific symptoms of hyperarousal, dissociation/numbing, and reexperiencing of the trauma. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,Understanding what is happening in the brain can inform more targeted treatment for various symptoms that the individual may be experiencing. [source] Morbidity in former sawmill workers exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP): A cross-sectional study in New ZealandAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009David McLean PhD Abstract Background From 1950 to 1990 pentachlorophenol (PCP) was used widely in the New Zealand sawmill industry, and persistent claims of long-term health effects have been made. Methods We surveyed surviving members of a cohort enumerated to study mortality in sawmill workers employed from 1970 to 1990. Estimates of historical exposure were based on job titles held, using the results of a PCP biomonitoring survey conducted in the 1980s. The survey involved interviews and clinical examinations, with interviewers and examiners blinded to exposure status. Results Of the 293 participants 177 had not been exposed, and of the 116 exposed all but 10% had low or short-term PCP exposure. Nevertheless, a number of significant associations between PCP exposure and the prevalence of various symptoms were observed including associations between: (i) exposure levels and self-reported tuberculosis, pleurisy or pneumonia (P,<,0.01) and a deficit in cranial nerve function (P,=,0.04); (ii) duration of employment and thyroid disorders (P,=,0.04), and neuropsychological symptoms including often going back to check things (P,=,0.04), low libido (P,=,0.02) and heart palpitations (P,=,0.02), and a strong dose,response trend for frequent mood changes without cause (P,<,0.01); and (iii) cumulative exposure and frequent mood changes without cause (P,=,0.02), low libido (P,=,0.04), and in the overall number of neuropsychological symptoms reported (P,=,0.03). Conclusions PCP exposure was associated with a number of physical and neuropsychological health effects that persisted long after exposure had ceased. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:271,281, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hypersensitivity symptoms associated with exposure to cellular telephones: No causal linkBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 4 2002Maila Hietanen Abstract The hypothesis that there exist hypersensitive persons who perceive subjective symptoms from radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by hand held mobile phones (cellular phones) was tested using double blind provocation experiments. We also tested whether sensitive subjects are able to determine whether the phone is on or off by sensing RF fields. The study group consisted of 20 volunteers (13 women and 7 men) who reported themselves as being sensitive to cellular phones. The RF exposure sources were one analogue NMT phone (900 MHz) and two digital GSM phones (900 and 1800 MHz). The duration of a test session was 30 min, and three or four sessions were performed in random order for each subject during 1 day. The subjects were asked to report symptoms or sensations as soon as they perceived any abnormal feelings. In addition, the subjects' blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing frequency were monitored every 5 min. The results of the study indicated that various symptoms were reported, and most of them appeared in the head region. However, the number of reported symptoms was higher during sham exposure than during real exposure conditions. In addition, none of the test persons could distinguish real RF exposure from sham exposure. Hence, we conclude that adverse subjective symptoms or sensations, though unquestionably perceived by the test subjects, were not produced by cellular phones. Bioelectromagnetics 23:264,270, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The oak processionary caterpillar as the cause of an epidemic airborne disease: survey and analysisBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003H. Maier Summary Background Thaumetopoea processionea L. (order Lepidoptera), the oak processionary moth, is found in oak forests in most European countries. Its third to sixth larval instars are armed with poisonous hairs (setae) containing an urticating toxin (thaumetopoein) potentially harmful to humans. Because T. processionea infests trees at the edges of forests or standing alone people frequently come into contact with its setae. In the woodland bordering on the western suburbs of Vienna conditions favouring its increase have led to frequent outbreaks of lepidopterism. Objectives To determine the incidence of lepidopterism in a suburban environment with three separate caterpillar-infested oak trees and to ascertain the frequency of the various symptoms of lepidopterism and the manner of contact with setae. Methods We conducted a telephone survey of all the households/institutions located within 500 m of the infested trees. To gain more information on patients' symptoms and on situations likely to lead to increased contact with setae we asked those who reported cutaneous reactions to complete a questionnaire. As part of the environmental study we described the outbreak site, examined patients and, with tape-strip samples taken from the surface of the soil, looked for setae persisting in the environment. Results Of 1025 people surveyed 57 (5·6%) reported one or more symptoms of lepidopterism: 55 (96%) reported pruritus, 54 (95%) dermatitis, eight (14%) conjunctivitis, eight (14%) pharyngitis and two (4%) respiratory distress. The questionnaire was returned by 37 (69%) of the individuals with dermatitis. Of those, 16% had reacted with weal formation, 49% with papular rash and 22% with toxic irritant dermatitis. In 13% of respondents it was not possible to define the reaction. The risk factor analysis showed that airborne contamination was the most important cause: 97% of people had frequently passed an infested tree, 57% lived near a tree (in a neighbouring garden) and 32% had a tree in their own garden. Direct contact with larvae was of minor importance (38%). In four of the tape-strip samples intact setae were identified 1 year after the infestation. Conclusions Lepidopterism caused by T. processionea is a public health problem of increasing significance. In years with outbreaks of the pest it can reach epidemic proportions in communities located near infested trees. Contact with airborne setae was mainly responsible for the occurrence of the disease. [source] Hutchinson,Gilford progeria syndrome with severe skin calcinosisCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007S. Nakamura Summary We describe a case of Hutchinson,Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) with long-term follow-up. A 1-month-old girl with marked sclerodermatous skin changes developed various symptoms of HGPS during follow-up. These included sclerotic skin, pigmentation, skin atrophy with translucent veins, wispy hair and alopecia, nail dystrophy and decreased sweating. Marked skin calcinosis was observed over almost the entire body, a symptom that has apparently been ignored in the literature. At 16 years old, the girl underwent surgery for a skull fracture and subdural haematoma, which was followed by chronic ulceration. Wet dressing with insulin-like growth factor was used with considerable effect. Mutation of the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene mutation, which encodes nuclear lamin A and C, has been reported to be the cause of HGPS. Our case showed the mutation G608G (GGC,GGT), which resulted in a cryptic splice site and consequently in a truncated lamin A/C protein. [source] | ||||||||||