bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of the capsaicin‐induced dermal blood flow response as assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging
Authors: Van der Schueren B. J. , De Hoon J. N. , Vanmolkot F. H. , Van Hecken A. , Depre M. , Kane S. A. , De Lepeleire I. , Sinclair S. R. 
Published: June 2007

What is already known about this subject• Capsaicin rapidly produces local neurogenic inflammation (characterized by oedema and erythema) when locally administered to the human skin by binding to the TRPV1 receptor present on dermal sensory nerve endings.• In nonhuman primates, a pharmacodynamic assay has been described and validated using capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging to assess calcitonin gene‐related peptide antagonist activity.• Laser Doppler perfusion imaging has also been shown to be a reliable method for characterizing microvascular changes in the human skin.What this study adds• Capsaicin induces a reproducible within‐subject arm‐to‐arm increase in dermal blood flow (DBF) when applied to the human skin.• This is the first study to describe a non‐invasive pharmacodynamic model in humans using capsaicin‐induced neurogenic inflammation and allowing repeated, reproducible measurements of DBF to be performed.• This model might therefore be utilized in the early clinical evaluation of antagonists of putative mediators involved in capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation.AimsPart I: to establish the dose and appropriate application site of capsaicin on the human forearm in order to produce a robust and reproducible dermal blood flow (DBF) response. Part II: to evaluate the within‐subject arm‐to‐arm and period‐to‐period reproducibility.MethodsBoth parts consisted of two study visits. In part I, placebo and 100, 300 and 1000 µg capsaicin were applied at four predefined sites on the volar surface of both forearms. Placebo and capsaicin doses were randomized and balanced by site between subjects. Changes in DBF were assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging up to 60 min after capsaicin application. In part II, only 1000 µg capsaicin was applied on the proximal forearm and changes in DBF assessed up to 30 min (t30). DBF response was expressed as percent change from baseline ± SD and the corresponding AUC0−30. Reproducibility assessment included calculation of the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC).ResultsPart I (n = 12 subjects): compared with placebo, 300 and 1000 µg capsaicin increased DBF (P < 0.05) at all time points except at 10 min. This increase was reproducible at the two most proximal sites from the 30‐min time point onwards when compared between arms (CCC ≥ 0.8, i.e. substantial to almost perfect reproducibility). In part II (n = 11),t30averaged 390 ± 120% and arm‐to‐arm reproducibility was almost perfect (CCC = 0.91) for AUC0−30.ConclusionsCapsaicin induces a reproducible within‐subject arm‐to‐arm increase in DBF. We provide a non‐invasive pharmacodynamic model in humans to test antagonists of mediators involved in capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation, including calcitonin gene‐related peptide antagonists.
Operational implications of using 2006 World Health Organization growth standards in nutrition programmes: secondary data analysis
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: June 2007

.

Seal A,
Kerac M
. (
2007
)

,
334
,
733
–
735
.

doi: 10.1136/bmj.39101.664109.AE
Objective  To assess the implications of adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards in combination with current diagnostic criteria in emergency and non‐emergency child feeding programmes.Design  Secondary analysis of data from three standardized nutrition surveys (n = 2555) for prevalence of acute malnutrition, using weight‐for‐height z‐score (<−2 and <−3) and percentage of the median (<80% and <70%) cut‐offs for moderate and severe acute malnutrition from the National Center for Health Statistics/WHO growth reference (NCHS reference) and the new WHO 2006 growth standards (WHO standards).Setting  Refugee camps in Algeria, Kenya and Bangladesh.Population  Children aged 6–59 months.Results  Important differences exist in the weight‐for‐height cut‐offs used for defining acute malnutrition obtained from the WHO standards and NCHS reference data. These vary according to a child's height and according to whether z‐score or percentage of the median cut‐offs are used. If applied and used according to current practice in nutrition programmes, the WHO standards will result in a higher measured prevalence of severe acute malnutrition during surveys but, paradoxically, a decrease in the admission of children to emergency feeding programmes and earlier discharge of recovering patients. The expected impact on case fatality rates of applying the new standards in conjunction with current diagnostic criteria is unknown.Conclusions  A full assessment of the appropriate use of the new WHO standards in the diagnosis of acute malnutrition is urgently needed. This should be completed before the standards are adopted by organizations that run nutrition programmes targeting acute malnutrition.
Parenting programme for parents of children at risk of developing conduct disorder: cost effectiveness analysis
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: June 2007

.

Edwards RT,
Céilleachair A,
Bywater T,
Hughes DA,
Hutchings J
. (
2007
)

,
334
,
682
–
685
.

doi: 10.1136/bmj.39126.699421.55
Objective  To investigate the cost‐effectiveness of a parenting programme.Design  An incremental cost‐effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a group‐parenting programme delivered through Sure Start in the community.Setting  Sure Start areas in north and mid‐Wales.Participants  Parents of 116 children aged 36–59 months (87% of the clinical sample) at risk of developing conduct disorders (defined by scoring over the clinical cut‐off on the Eyberg child behaviour inventory). Children were identified by health visitors and recruited by the research team.Intervention  The Webster‐Stratton Incredible Years basic parenting programme or a 6‐month waiting list control.Main outcome measure  Incremental cost per unit of improvement on the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory.Results  The bootstrapped incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio point estimate was £73 (€109, $142) per one point improvement on the intensity score (95% confidence interval £42 to £140). It would cost £5486 (€8190, $10 666) to bring the child with the highest intensity score to below the clinical cut‐off point and £1344 (€2006, $2618) to bring the average child in the intervention group within the non‐clinical limits on the intensity score (below 127). For a ceiling ratio of £100 (€149, $194) per point increase in intensity score, there is an 83.9% chance of the intervention being cost‐effective. The mean cost per child attending the parenting group was £1934 (€2887, $3760) for eight children and £1289 (€1924, $2506) for 12 children, including initial costs and materials for training group leaders. When we categorized the sample into relatively mild, moderate and severe behaviour groups based on intensity scores at baseline, the intervention seemed more cost‐effective in those with the highest risk of developing conduct disorder.Conclusion  This parenting programme improves child behaviour as measured by the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory at a relatively low cost and was cost‐effective compared with the waiting list control. This parenting programme involves modest costs and demonstrates strong clinical effect, suggesting it would represent good value for money for public spending.
Effect of inhaled interleukin‐5 on eosinophil progenitors in the bronchi and bone marrow of asthmatic and non‐asthmatic volunteers
Authors: Menzies‐Gow A. N. , Flood‐Page P. T. , Robinson D. S. , Kay A. B. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryBackground
Asthma is characterized by increases in mature eosinophils and their progenitors within the bronchus and bone marrow. IL‐5 plays a key role in eosinophil development in the bone marrow and at the site of allergic inflammation. We therefore studied the effects of nebulized IL‐5 on eosinophils, their progenitors and in situ haemopoiesis within the airway and bone marrow.Methods
Nine atopic asthmatics and 10 non‐atopic non‐asthmatic control volunteers inhaled 10 μg of IL‐5 or placebo via a nebulizer in a double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over study. Bronchoscopy, bone marrow aspiration and peripheral blood sampling were performed 24 h after nebulization. Four weeks later, volunteers inhaled the alternative solution and underwent a repeat bronchoscopy and bone marrow aspiration.Results
Inhalation of IL‐5 significantly decreased CD34+/IL‐5Rα mRNA+ cells within the bronchial mucosa and the percentage of CD34+ cells that were CCR3+ within the bone marrow of atopic asthmatic, but not control, volunteers. Inhalation of IL‐5 also induced a significant increase in bronchial mucosal eosinophils in the non‐atopic non‐asthmatic control volunteers, but not in the asthmatics. IL‐5 had no effect on spirometry or airways hyper‐reactivity in either group.Conclusions
Inhaled IL‐5 modulated eosinophil progenitor numbers in both the airways and bone marrow of asthmatics and induced local eosinophilia in non‐asthmatics.
Delayed drug hypersensitivity reactions – new concepts
Authors: Posadas S. J. , Pichler W. J. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryImmune reactions to small molecular compounds such as drugs can cause a variety of diseases mainly involving skin, but also liver, kidney, lungs and other organs. In addition to the well‐known immediate, IgE‐mediated reactions to drugs, many drug‐induced hypersensitivity reactions appear delayed. Recent data have shown that in these delayed reactions drug‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells recognize drugs through their T cell receptors (TCR) in an MHC‐dependent way. Immunohistochemical and functional studies of drug‐reactive T cells in patients with distinct forms of exanthems revealed that distinct T cell functions lead to different clinical phenotypes. Taken together, these data allow delayed hypersensitivity reactions (type IV) to be further subclassified into T cell reactions, which by releasing certain cytokines and chemokines preferentially activate and recruit monocytes (type IVa), eosinophils (type IVb), or neutrophils (type IVd). Moreover, cytotoxic functions by either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells (type IVc) seem to participate in all type IV reactions. Drugs are not only immunogenic because of their chemical reactivity, but also because they may bind in a labile way to available TCRs and possibly MHC‐molecules. This seems to be sufficient to stimulate certain, probably preactivated T cells. The drug seems to bind first to the fitting TCR, which already exerts some activation. For full activation, an additional interaction of the TCR with the MHC molecules is needed. The drug binding to the receptor structures is reminiscent of a pharmacological interaction between a drug and its (immune) receptor and was thus termed the p–i concept. In some patients with drug hypersensitivity, such a response occurs within hours even upon the first exposure to the drug. The T cell reaction to the drug might thus not be due to a classical, primary response, but is due to peptide‐specific T cells which happen to be stimulated by a drug. This new concept has major implications for understanding clinical and immunological features of drug hypersensitivity and a model to explain the frequent skin symptoms in drug hypersensitivity is proposed.
Cysteinyl‐leukotriene levels in sputum differentiate asthma from rhinitis patients with or without bronchial hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Tufvesson E. , Aronsson D. , Bjermer L. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryBackground
We have previously reported that asthma differs from rhinitis with or without bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the perception and degree of lower airway inflammation.Objective
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sputum levels of inflammatory markers could further distinguish these patient groups.Methods
Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis with or without asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine were investigated. Induced sputum was performed during as well as off season, and analysed for cysteinyl‐leukotrienes, hyaluronan, eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and other inflammatory markers.Results
Asthmatic patients differentiated from those with rhinitis with or without bronchial hyperresponsiveness in levels of cysteinyl‐leukotrienes [geometric mean: 3.3 (lower 95%–upper 95% confidence interval (CI) of geometric mean: 1.9–5.1) vs. 1.4 (0.9–2.2) and 0.7 (0.3–1.6) pg/μg total protein] and hyaluronan [0.30 (0.22–0.43) vs. 0.15 (0.10–0.20) and 0.20 (0.12–0.35) ng/μg total protein] in sputum. The levels of cysteinyl‐leukotrienes decreased in sputum from the asthmatic patients, while the levels of hyaluronan remained elevated off‐season. Furthermore, elevated levels of ECP were noticed among both the asthmatic and rhinitis patients with hyperresponsiveness compared with controls [0.022 (0.014–0.033) and 0.015 (0.011–0.021) compared with 0.010 (0.007–0.014) ng/μg total protein]. The level of ECP remained elevated off season.Conclusion
Cysteinyl‐leukotrienes are possibly more related to mast cell‐mediated inflammation and remodelling, also indicated by increased levels of hyaluronan during and off season. This inflammation may be partly different from the eosinophil‐driven inflammation.
Biological potency of German cockroach allergen extracts determined in an inner city population
Authors: Slater J. E. , James R. , Pongracic J. A. , Liu A. H. , Sarpong S. , Sampson H. A. , Satinover S. M. , Woodfolk J. A. , Mitchell H. E. , Gergen P. J. , Eggleston P. A. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryBackground
Cockroach allergy is an important cause of inner city asthma. To perform valid studies on the diagnosis and treatment of cockroach allergy, biological potencies of test extracts need to be established, and a surrogate in vitro test for biological potency should be chosen.Methods
Sixty‐two cockroach‐allergic adult subjects were recruited for quantitative skin testing with three commercial German cockroach extracts. The intradermal D50 values were determined using linear interpolation, and the biologic potencies were determined from D50 data. The extracts were also analysed for relative potency, using a competition ELISA, and for specific allergen content, using a two‐site ELISA.Results
Estimates of each extract's D50 were analysable in 48–55 subjects, with D50s between 10.3 and 11.8. All three extracts were bioequivalent using pre‐set criteria. The biological potencies of the extracts were 1738–8570 bioequivalent allergy units (BAU)/mL (geometric mean=3300), and these relative potencies were similar to those estimated by competition ELISA and specific allergen content. IgE against cockroach allergens were detected in sera from 34 subjects with analysable D50s, and 17 subjects had IgE directed against specific cockroach allergens. Although the presence of anti‐Bla g 5 correlated with the subjects' skin test responses for 2/3 extracts, no single allergen was immunodominant. Antibody responses among the subjects were heterogeneous.Conclusions
Although commercial cockroach extracts are relatively low in potency, immunotherapeutic doses should be achievable. Biological potency may be estimated using D50 testing, a combination of specific allergen determinations, or by an overall potency assay such as the competition ELISA.Capsule Summary
The biological potency of three German cockroach allergen extracts, determined in an inner city population, was 1738–8570 BAU/mL. No one allergen was immunodominant, and surrogate in vitro testing methods were examined.
Interaction between cytokines and sCD40L in patients with stable and unstable coronary syndromes
Authors: Tousoulis D. , Antoniades C. , Nikolopoulou A. , Koniari K. , Vasiliadou C. , Marinou K. , Koumallos N. , Papageorgiou N. , Stefanadi E. , Siasos G. , Stefanadis C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  Evidence suggests that soluble CD40‐ligand (sCD40L) is elevated in coronary artery disease (CAD) and is released from activated platelets during the acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although sCD40L is part of immune response, the mechanisms regulating its release in different disease states remain unknown.Materials and methods  This study enrolled 596 subjects: 201 patients with stable CAD, 109 patients with AMI and 286 healthy controls. Circulating levels of sCD40L, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule‐a (sVCAM‐1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1) were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results  Patients with AMI (n = 109) had higher levels of sCD40L and IL‐6 compared to both CAD (n = 201) (P < 0·01) and controls (n = 286) (P < 0·01), while CAD also had higher levels of sCD40L and IL‐6 compared to controls (P < 0·01). Similarly, sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1 levels were higher in CAD and AMI compared to controls (P < 0·05). IL‐6 was the only parameter independently associated with sCD40L in healthy individuals [β (SE):0·491(0·096), P = 0·0001]. However, in CAD or AMI, only diabetes mellitus [β (SE): 2·689 (1·082), P = 0·044 and β (SE): 10·406 (3·215), P = 0·002, respectively] and smoking [β (SE): 3·470 (1·111), P = 0·002 and β (SE): 9·694 (2·478), P = 0·0001, respectively] (but not IL‐6), were independently associated with sCD40L levels.Conclusions  Both CAD and AMI are accompanied by increased levels of sCD40L in parallel with an elevation of proinflammatory cytokine IL‐6 and adhesion molecules sVCAM‐1 and sICAM‐1. Diabetes mellitus and smoking (but not IL‐6 or adhesion molecules) were the only factors independently associated with sCD40L levels in CAD and AMI patients.
Role of hydrology in development of a vernal clear water phase in an urban impoundment
Authors: LEHMAN JOHN T. , PLATTE RACHEL A. , FERRIS JULIE A. 
Published: June 2007

Summary1. Grazer control of phytoplankton and water transparency was responsive to interannual variations in river discharge and corresponding water retention time in Ford Lake, Michigan, U.S.A.2. A simple mathematical model was developed to separate the effects of washout from in situ zooplankton population dynamics. The threshold reservoir flushing time for development of a large Daphnia population and corresponding clear water phase during May was about 20 days. Predation by Leptodora was insufficient to cause the subsequent decline of the Daphnia population.3. Recruitment success by the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha appeared responsive to flushing time indirectly, through hydrological effects on the magnitude of the spring diatom crop.
A review of prison health and its implications for primary care nursing in England and Wales: the research evidence
Authors: Condon Louise , Gill Hek , Harris Francesca 
Published: June 2007

Aims and objectives.  To provide a systematic overview of the policy and practice literature concerned with the primary healthcare needs of prisoners in England and Wales and to address the implications of these health needs for nurses working in prisons.Background.  The recent reorganization of the prison healthcare system, which has brought prison health services in England and Wales within the National Health Service, has major implications for the role of prison nurses. Nurses in prisons are increasingly providing services to promote the health of prisoners, in addition to making assessments of health need and treating health problems.Methods.  The review examined literature from 1995 to date using standard review techniques adapted to be both sensitive and inclusive and with high recall because of the unexplored nature of primary health care in prisons.Results.  Findings are identified in three main areas: the general health needs of prisoners, health promotion and chronic disease management. In all these areas, the health needs of the prison population are much greater than the community as a whole, resulting in a high demand for primary care services in prison. However, the prison setting can militate against providing good primary care services in prison.Conclusions.  More research has been carried out into the health needs of prisoners than into the provision of primary care nursing services in prisons. Further research is needed into primary care nursing in prison to meet the health needs of prisoners effectively.Relevance to Clinical Practice.  With the reorganization of prison health services, health provision in prisons is increasingly primary care focused. This presents new challenges to nurses working in prison to provide a primary care service, which meets the identified health needs of prisoners.
Effect of the diabetes outpatient intensive management programme on glycaemic control for type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Song Min‐Sun , Kim Hee‐Seung 
Published: June 2007

Aim.  The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the diabetes outpatient intensive management programme (DOIMP) on glycaemic control over a 12 week follow‐up period for type 2 diabetic patients in Korea.Background.  Diabetic complications can be prevented if the glycaemic status of diabetes patients is maintained within a nearly normal range. Patient education is critical in controlling blood glucose levels of patients with diabetes within the optimal range.Methods.  DOIMP was composed of multidisciplinary education, complication monitoring and telephone counselling. Twenty‐five patients in the intervention group participated in the DOIMP and 24 patients in the control group were briefed on the conventional description of diabetes mellitus by diabetes education nurses.Results.  Patients in the intervention group had a mean decrease of 2·3%, which those in the control group having a mean decrease 0·4% in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). There was no difference between the two groups in the change in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and two‐hour postprandial blood glucose (2‐h PBG). The proportion of the patients with HbA1c <7% was higher in the intervention group than in the control group at the post‐test compare with the pretest.Conclusion.  DOIMP can reduce HbA1c in type 2 diabetes patients.Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings indicated that DOIMP could be effective in glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients.