bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eating patterns among heroin users: a qualitative study with implications for nutritional interventions
Authors: Neale Joanne , Nettleton Sarah , Pickering Lucy , Fischer Jan 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To provide new insights into heroin users' eating patterns in order to inform nutritional interventions.Design  Seventy‐seven audio‐recorded in‐depth interviews which elicited detailed data on eating patterns.Setting  Community and residential drug services, pharmacies and peer support groups in Southern England, UK.Participants  Forty current or ex‐heroin users (21 men and 19 women), of whom 37 (20 men and 17 women) were re‐interviewed after 3 months.Measurements  Audio data transcribed verbatim, coded systematically and analysed inductively.Findings  Heroin users' eating patterns were influenced by individual, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. During active heroin use, participants consumed quick, convenient, cheap and sweet foods, ate infrequently and had little interest in food. Eating patterns often improved during stays in residential services and after heroin cessation. Ex‐heroin users began to take pleasure in food preparation and eating and identified therapeutic benefits to cooking. Initially, weight gain was experienced positively, but subsequently generated anxieties as participants, particularly women, struggled to control their appetite and worried about becoming overweight. Findings complement and add to previous research and sociological and anthropological literatures.Conclusions  Heroin users have dysfunctional eating patterns that are amenable to change and community and residential services could enable them to experience the many health, psychological and social benefits of improved eating practices. Nutritional interventions need to be tailored to individual needs and circumstances, but also monitored and evaluated so that there is a future evidence base.
Risk assessment studies on succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, the new weapons in the battle to control Septoria leaf blotch in wheat
Authors: FRAAIJE BART A. , BAYON CARLOS , ATKINS SARAH , COOLS HANS J. , LUCAS JOHN A. , FRAAIJE MARCO W. 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYChemical control of Septoria leaf blotch, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, is essential to ensure wheat yield and food security in most European countries. Mycosphaerella graminicola has developed resistance to several classes of fungicide and, with the efficacy of azoles gradually declining over time, new modes of action and/or improvements in host varietal resistance are urgently needed to ensure future sustainable disease control. Several new‐generation carboxamide fungicides with broad‐spectrum activity have recently been introduced into the cereal market. Carboxamides inhibit succinate dehydrogenase (Sdh) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex II) but, because of their single‐site specificity, these fungicides may be prone to resistance development. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of resistance development to different Sdh inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides in M. graminicola. UV mutagenesis was conducted to obtain a library of carboxin‐resistant mutants. A range of SDHI resistance‐conferring mutations was found in Sdh subunits B, C and D. Pathogenicity studies with a range of Sdh variants did not detect any fitness costs associated with these mutations. Most of the amino acid residues identified (e.g. B‐S221P/T, B‐H267F/L/N/Y, B‐I269V and D‐D129E/G/T) are directly involved in forming the cavity in which SDHI fungicides bind. Docking studies of SDHI fungicides in structural models of wild‐type and mutated Sdh complexes also indicated which residues were important for the binding of different SDHI fungicides and showed a different binding for fluopyram. The predictive power of the model was also shown. Further diagnostic development, enabling the detection of resistant alleles at low frequencies, and cross‐resistance studies will aid the implementation of anti‐resistance strategies to prolong the cost‐effectiveness and lifetime of SDHI fungicides.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children with Down syndrome: an updated review
Authors: Maloney Kelly W. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryDown syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in children and also carries a marked increased incidence of acute leukaemia. Current therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children with DS offers similar treatment outcome as compared to children without DS. However, in general, there is increased morbidity associated with chemotherapy in children with DS. In recent years, a better understanding of the biology of ALL has led to the elucidation of differences in DS ALL vs non‐DS ALL. Further research in these differences may provide a more targeted therapy for DS ALL, with the hopes of continuing good therapeutic outcome while decreasing the toxicities seen in these patients. This review provides an update on the current treatment outcomes and the biological differences seen in DS ALL.
Discontinuous epitopes on the C2 domain of coagulation Factor VIII mapped by computer‐designed synthetic peptides
Authors: Lebreton Aurélien , Moreau Violaine , Lapalud Priscilla , Cayzac Christopher , André Sébastien , Nguyen Christophe , Schved Jean‐François , Lavigne Géraldine , Granier Claude 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe occurrence of alloantibodies against Factor VIII (FVIII) is the main iatrogenic complication in haemophilia A (HA). Anti‐FVIII autoantibodies may also spontaneously appear in non‐HA patients, leading to acquired haemophilia A. In both contexts, the antibody response against FVIII is complex and difficult to analyse due to the lack of suitable tools. Our purpose was to comprehensively map, at the amino acid level, discontinuous epitopes of the C2 domain of FVIII targeted by patients’ antibodies. We synthesized 33 synthetic peptides, which were predicted by the bioinformatic algorithm PEPOP to mimic C2 domain discontinuous epitopes. Using an inhibition assay based on the x‐MAP technology, we evaluated their ability to block the binding to the C2 domain of anti‐C2 domain antibodies from pooled plasma samples. Nine peptides were thus selected and tested again in individual plasma samples. Our results support the view that C2 domain epitopes are organized as an epitopic mosaic distributed around the molecule, showed that each patient displayed a specific anti‐C2 epitopic profile, and confirmed the complexity and variability of the immune response against the C2 domain of FVIII. This ability to finely map epitopes could be further used to follow the antibody specificity modifications over time.
Effective treatment of experimental ragweed‐induced asthma with STAT‐6‐IP, a topically delivered cell‐penetrating peptide
Authors: Wang Y. , Li Y. , Shan J. , Fixman E. , McCusker C. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBackgroundTreatment of allergic airways disease including asthma remains primarily local immunosuppression with topical corticosteroid and symptomatic management with antihistamines and anti‐leucotrienes. We have developed a novel topical therapy designed to specifically inhibit the events associated with Th2 cell activation.ObjectiveWe assessed the efficacy of our cell‐penetrating STAT‐6 inhibitory peptide (STAT‐6‐IP), a novel treatment for allergic airways disease, in a model of chronic ragweed‐induced asthma.MethodsSix‐ to eight‐week‐old mice were sensitized over 5 weeks with intranasal (IN) exposures to whole ragweed allergen without adjuvant. Mice were then IN challenged with Amba 1 with and without treatment IN with STAT‐6‐IP and allergic responses assessed. Two weeks later, some animals were rechallenged with Amba 1 with or without STAT‐6‐IP.ResultsAnimals exposed to IN ragweed developed significant airway hyperresponsiveness and airways inflammation upon challenge. Cell cultures showed increases in Th2 cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐13. Topical STAT‐6‐IP treatment reduced production of Th2 cytokines, demonstrated increased expression of IL‐10 and reduced frequency of cultured IL‐4 positive CD4+ T cells derived from treated mice, suggesting that STAT‐6‐IP treatment may be immunomodulatory. Airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge in the treatment group was similarly reduced to that of the non‐allergic PBS‐exposed animals. Importantly, STAT‐6‐IP‐treated mice remained hyporesponsive following second ragweed challenge 2 weeks after treatment.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThese data suggest that topical application of the STAT‐6‐IP is sufficient to inhibit allergic airways responses in animals chronically sensitized and challenged with ragweed. Data show that a single topical treatment course is sufficient to block signs of allergic responses to ragweed in the airways for at least 2 weeks. STAT‐6‐IP is a novel potential treatment for chronic allergic asthma.
Annexin‐1‐deficient mice exhibit spontaneous airway hyperresponsiveness and exacerbated allergen‐specific antibody responses in a mouse model of asthma
Authors: Ng F. S. P. , Wong K. Y. , Guan S. P. , Mustafa F. B. , Kajiji T. S. , Bist P. , Biswas S. K. , Wong W. S. F. , Lim L. H. K. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBackgroundGlucocorticoids are the mainstream drugs used in the treatment and control of inflammatory diseases such as asthma. Annexin‐1 (ANXA1) is an anti‐inflammatory protein which has been described as an endogenous protein responsible for some anti‐inflammatory glucocorticoid effects. Previous studies have identified its importance in other immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis. ANXA1‐deficient (−/−) mice are Th2 biased, and ANXA1 N‐terminus peptide exhibits anti‐inflammatory activity in a rat model of pulmonary inflammation.ObjectiveANXA1 protein is found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatics. However, the function of ANXA1 in the pathological development of allergy or asthma is unclear. Thus, in this study we intended to examine the effect of ANXA1 deficiency on allergen‐specific antibody responses and airway responses to methacholine (Mch).MethodsANXA1−/− mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with aerosolized OVA. Airway resistance, lung compliance and enhanced pause (PenH) were measured in naïve, sensitized and saline or allergen‐challenged wild‐type (WT) and ANXA1−/− mice. Total and allergen‐specific antibodies were measured in the serum.ResultsWe show that allergen‐specific and total IgE, IgG2a and IgG2b levels were significantly higher in ANXA1−/− mice. Furthermore, naïve ANXA1−/− mice displayed higher airway hypersensitivity to inhaled Mch, and significant differences were also observed in allergen‐sensitized and allergen‐challenged ANXA1−/− mice compared with WT mice.ConclusionsIn conclusion, ANXA1−/− mice possess multiple features characteristic to allergic asthma, such as airway hyperresponsiveness and enhanced antibody responses, suggesting that ANXA1 plays a critical regulatory role in the development of asthma.Clinical RelevanceWe postulate that ANXA1 is an important regulatory factor in the development of allergic disease and dysregulation of its expression can lead to pathological changes which may affect disease progression.
Low neonatal Toll‐like receptor 4‐mediated interleukin‐10 production is associated with subsequent atopic dermatitis
Authors: Belderbos M. E. , Knol E. F. , Houben M. L. , van Bleek G. M. , Wilbrink B. , Kimpen J. L. L. , Rovers M. , Bont L. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) and respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection (RSV LRTI) are common diseases during early life. Impaired Th1‐cell polarizing Toll‐like receptor (TLR) responses play an important role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Neonatal TLR‐mediated production of Th1‐type cytokines is decreased at birth, but rapidly increases during the first month of life.ObjectiveTo determine whether decreased TLR‐mediated production of Th1‐polarizing cytokines, at the age of 1 month is associated with subsequent AD or RSV LRTI.MethodsA prospective healthy birth cohort study was performed. Whole blood concentrations of innate immune cells and TLR‐mediated cytokine responses were measured at the age of 1 month in 291 neonates. AD was determined by a physician questionnaire at the age of 1 year and RSV LRTI was defined as parent‐reported respiratory symptoms and presence of RSV RNA in a nose–throat specimen.ResultsOf participating neonates, 45 (15%) developed AD and 41 (14%) developed RSV LRTI. Risks of AD and RSV LRTI were not associated (χ2, P = 1.00). AD was associated with decreased concentrations of basophils (7.6 vs. 14.0 × 106/mL, P = 0.002) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (17.0 vs. 20.5 × 106/mL, P = 0.04), increased concentrations of NK‐cells (79.7 vs. 45.1 × 106/mL, P = 0.03), and twofold lower TLR4‐mediated IL‐10 production (P = 0.001). In contrast, RSV LRTI was associated neither with neonatal concentrations of innate immune cells, nor with TLR‐mediated TNF‐α, IL‐12p70, IL‐10 or IFN‐αproduction.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceAtopic dermatitis, but not RSV LRTI, is associated with distinct pre‐symptomatic differences in the innate immune system. We hypothesize that decreased neonatal IL‐10‐mediated immune regulation during early life might play a causal role in the initiation of AD.
Obesity is associated with increased asthma severity and exacerbations, and increased serum immunoglobulin E in inner‐city adults
Authors: Fitzpatrick S. , Joks R. , Silverberg J. I. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBackgroundObesity is associated with increased asthma and atopy.ObjectiveTo determine whether or not obesity in inner‐city adults is associated with increased asthma prevalence, severity and exacerbations and IgE responses.MethodsThis retrospective study involved 246 adults with asthma and other atopic disorders who were seen at an asthma clinic in New York City between 1997 and 2010. Height, weight, asthma diagnosis and symptoms, peak flow (PF), spirometry, serum IgE levels and white blood cell differentials were recorded.ResultsAsthmatic patients had higher body mass index than non‐asthmatics (median, interquartile range: 30.5, 10.2 vs. 27.8, 8.8; Mann–Whitney U‐test, P = 0.0006). Class I and II/III obesity were associated with increased asthma (I: OR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.04–5.34, P = 0.04; II/III: OR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.36–7.74, P = 0.008). Class I and II/III obesity were associated with worsened asthma severity (ordinal logistic regression; I: OR: 4.23, 95% CI: 1.61–11.06, P = 0.003; II/III: OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.08–7.09, P = 0.03). Class II/III obesity was associated with increased asthma exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids (repeated measures logistic regression, OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25; P = 0.01) and increased requirement of inhaled corticosteroid for long‐term asthma management (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.29–1.62; P < 0.0001). In asthmatics, class II/III obesity was associated with decreased PF (general linear model, least squares mean ± SEM: 333.8 ± 37.4 vs. 396.2 ± 32.1 L/min; P = 0.007), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (75.2 ± 4.6 vs. 88.4 ± 5.6%; P = 0.03) and forced vital capacity (83.2 ± 4.7 vs. 109.2 ± 6.0%; P = 0.0002) and increased serum IgE (480.2 ± 88.3 vs. 269.0 ± 66.6 IU/mL; P = 0.04) and neutrophils (66.6 ± 3.7 vs. 60.1 ± 3.8%; P = 0.02). Class I obesity was also associated with increased serum IgE (458.7 ± 68.9, P = 0.03).Conclusion and clinical relevanceObesity in inner‐city adults may be both a risk and exacerbating factor for atopic asthma.
A multi‐method evaluation of a training course on dual diagnosis
Authors: RANI S. , BYRNE H. 
Published: September 2011

Accessible summary
As more and more service providers working in addictions and mental health services in Ireland are reporting an increase in individuals presenting with dual diagnosis, there is a need for training these professionals. The dual diagnosis training course developed by the authors is the only continuing professional development training course available to these professionals in Ireland.
In this paper, we describe the first group of participants' evaluation of the dual diagnosis training course, which was delivered to service providers working with dual diagnosis service users.
Participants found the training course to be motivating and valuable to their work practice. Since completing this training course, participants were more confident in working with dual diagnosis service users.
Service user involvement, use of various teaching methods and the opportunity for inter‐agency networking are important components of inter‐professional training courses.
AbstractA training course on dual diagnosis was developed within the Irish forensic mental health service, to bridge the gap in the lack of training on dual diagnosis in Ireland. The course was designed for service providers within mental health and addiction services. Twenty participants involving nursing, social work, police and social welfare disciplines attended the first training course. A mixed methodology research design was adapted to describe participants' evaluation of the training course. Data were collected using multiple methods: pre‐ and post‐test, daily evaluation and focus group interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using the spss Version 16.0 and qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings from the pre‐ and post‐test suggest an increase in participants' knowledge of dual diagnosis and an increase in confidence in conducting groups. Daily evaluation indicates that the course content largely met participants' needs. Finally, three themes emerged from the focus group interview: increased confidence, the training course/teaching methods and personal/organizational challenges. This study implies that service providers within mental health and addiction services benefit from inter‐professional, needs and skills based courses incorporating a variety of teaching methods. The way forward for future dual diagnosis training course developments would be working in partnership with service users and carers.
Arts In‐Reach: taking ‘bricks off shoulders’ in adult mental health inpatient care
Authors: STICKLEY T. , HUI A. 
Published: September 2011

Accessible summary
This research report is focusing upon arts activities on inpatient mental health units in the UK.
There is little current research about such activities.
People are often bored and feel powerless on inpatient wards.
Engaging with arts activities can help increase people's social interactions and also help people to express themselves.
AbstractThis article reports upon a research study focusing on a programme of work called Arts In‐Reach. The programme was designed to provide a participatory arts programme for the adult mental health inpatient wards in a city in the UK. The aim of the research study was to explore the experiences of people who have engaged with the Arts In‐Reach programme of work. Eleven qualitative interviews were conducted among participants of the programme. Consistent with other research, this study reveals how people on the wards often feel powerless and bored. The feelings of boredom are exacerbated as people recover. Participating in the arts groups has alleviated some of those feelings. Furthermore, participation has also increased people's social interactions and given opportunity for self‐expression. The arts activities also provide a distraction for people and some appreciated being able to talk about matters other than their ‘illness’. The arts activities helped people to think about their future and how they might take their artwork forward. For some people, thinking about the future helped with restoring a sense of hope, a quality imperative for recovery.
Attitudes towards different containment measures: a questionnaire survey in Finnish adolescent psychiatry
Authors: HOTTINEN A. , VÄLIMÄKI M. , SAILAS E. , PUTKONEN H. , JOFFE G. , NODA T. , LINDBERG N. 
Published: September 2011

Accessible summary
The use of containment measures in the treatment of underage patients is controversial, and empirical evidence about which containment methods are preferred is lacking.
The study aimed to investigate professionals' attitudes towards various containment measures in the field of Finnish adolescent psychiatry.
The three methods with the most approval were as‐needed medication, transfer to specialist locked wards and mechanical restraint.
The results emphasise the importance of wide‐range and in‐depth training as well as the difficulty of changing practices in psychiatric wards while attitudes are so strongly pro‐containment.
AbstractUse of containment measures in the treatment of underage patients is controversial, and empirical evidence about which containment methods are preferred is lacking. This study aimed to investigate attitudes of staff towards various containment measures in the field of adolescent psychiatry. The sample comprised 128 Finnish nurses and doctors working in closed wards with 13‐ to 17‐year‐old patients. The attitudes were studied using the Attitude to Containment Measures Questionnaire. The three methods with the most approval were as‐needed medication, transfer to specialist locked wards and mechanical restraint. The method with the least approval was the net bed. Total approval scores for the various containment measures were very similar among nurses and doctors. The differences appeared in attitudes towards mechanical restraint and constant observation, doctors showing a more critical attitude. Women tended to be more critical than men, but only intramuscular medication and mechanical restraint reached statistical significance. The results emphasize the importance of wide‐ranging and in‐depth training as well as the difficulty of changing practices in psychiatric wards while attitudes are so strongly pro‐containment.