Allergic diseases and asthma in the family predict the persistence and onset-age of asthma: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundFamily history of asthma and other allergic diseases have been linked to the risk of childhood asthma previously, but little is known about their effect on the age-of-onset and persistency of asthma until young adulthood.MethodsWe assessed the effect of the family history of asthma and allergic diseases on persistent vs. transient, and early- vs. late-onset persistent asthma in The Espoo Cohort Study 1991–2011, a population-based cohort study of 1623 subjects (follow-up rate 63.2%). The determinants were any family history (any parent or sibling); maternal; paternal; siblings only; parents only; and both siblings and parents. Analyses were conducted separately for asthma and allergic diseases while taking the other disease into account as a confounding factor. The outcomes were persistent, transient, early-onset persistent (<13 years) and late-onset persistent asthma. Adjusted risk ratios (RR) were calculated applying Poisson regression. Q-statistics were used to assess heterogeneity between RRs.ResultsFamily history was associated with the different subtypes but the magnitude of effect varied quantitatively. Any family history of asthma was a stronger determinant of persistent (adjusted RR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.99-4.00) than transient asthma (1.65, 1.03-2.65) (heterogeneity: P = 0.07) and on early-onset than late-onset persistent asthma. Also any family history of allergic diseases was a stronger determinant of persistent and early-onset asthma. The impact of paternal asthma continued to young adulthood (early-onset: 3.33, 1.57-7.06 vs. late-onset 2.04, 0.75-5.52) while the influence of maternal asthma decreased with age (Early-onset 3.94, 2.11-7.36 vs. Late-onset 0.88, 0.28-2.81). Paternal allergic diseases did not follow the pattern of paternal asthma, since they showed no association with late-onset asthma. Also the effect estimates for other subtypes were lower than in other hereditary groups (persistent 1.29, 0.75-2.22 vs. transient 1.20, 0.67-2.15 and early-onset 1.86, 0.95-3.64 vs. late-onset 0.64, 0.22-1.80).ConclusionsFamily history of asthma and allergic diseases are strong determinants of asthma, but the magnitude of effect varies according to the hereditary group so that some subtypes have a stronger hereditary component, and others may be more strongly related to environmental exposures. Our results provide useful information for assessing the prognosis of asthma based on a thorough family history.     

Psychosocial Assessments for HIV+ African Adolescents: Establishing Construct Validity and Exploring Under-Appreciated Correlates of Adherence

Study Objectives

Psychosocial factors such as outcome expectancy, perceived stigma, socio-emotional support, consideration of future consequences, and psychological reactance likely influence adolescent adherence to antiretroviral treatments. Culturally-adapted and validated tools for measuring these factors in African adolescents are lacking. We aimed to identify culturally-specific factors of importance to establishing local construct validity in Botswana.

Methods

Using in-depth interviews of 34 HIV+ adolescents, we explored how the psychosocial factors listed above are perceived in this cultural context. We evaluated six scales that have been validated in other contexts. We also probed for additional factors that the adolescents considered important to their HIV medication adherence. Analyses were conducted with an analytic framework approach using NVivo9 software.

Results

While the construct validity of some Western-derived assessment tools was confirmed, other tools were poorly representative of their constructs in this cultural context. Tools chosen to evaluate HIV-related outcome expectancy and perceived stigma were well-understood and relevant to the adolescents. Feedback from the adolescents suggested that tools to measure all other constructs need major modifications to obtain construct validity in Botswana. The scale regarding future consequences was poorly understood and contained several items that lacked relevance for the Batswana adolescents. They thought psychological reactance played an important role in adherence, but did not relate well to many components of the reactance scale. Measurement of socio-emotional support needs to focus on the adolescent-parent relationship, rather than peer-support in this cultural context. Denial of being HIV-infected was an unexpectedly common theme. Ambivalence about taking medicines was also expressed.

Discussion

In-depth interviews of Batswana adolescents confirmed the construct validity of some Western-developed psychosocial assessment tools, but demonstrated limitations in others. Previously underappreciated factors related to HIV medication adherence, such as denial and ambivalence, should be further explored.     

Evaluation of the viability and germination of tempisque [<i>Sideroxylon capiri</i> (A.DC.) Pittier Sapotaceae]

The tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri) is a tree native to Mexico used by the rural population for housing construction, poles and hedges, as fuel (wood) and also for fodder and ornamental purposes, among others. It is considered an endangered species. In order to contribute to its preservation and sustainable management, it was considered important to determine the proportion of viable seeds, the loss of viability due to storage period and the germination process by applying pregerminative treatments. We found that freshly collected seeds showed 100% viability, which decreased to 0% after 5 months of storage. According to the cumulative germination significant differences between treatments (p≤0.01) were found. It was observed that seeds can accelerate their time of germination with the previous exposure of 24 h in water at room temperature. The soaking treatment in water for 24 h at room temperature obtained final germination of 55%, while with the control 39% was reached. Soaking in hydrogen peroxide and scarification were the treatments with lower germination percentage (33 and 23%, respectively). To get a higher percentage of germinated seeds in a short time, it is necessary to give a soaking treatment in water for 24 h before sowing.     

Influence of aflatoxin B1 on seed germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of mustard (brassica juncea L. var. pusa bold) seeds

Five different concentrations (100, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 μg/L of aflatoxin B₁ were found to be inhibitory to seed germination and seedling growth (root and shoot lengths) of mustard seeds (variety Pusa bold). These also lowered the levels of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the emerging leaves during seedling growth. The inhibitory effect was correlated with the concentration of applied toxin.     

Glycine Receptors in the Human Substantia Nigra as Defined by [3H]Strychnine Binding

Abstract: Specific [³H]strychnine binding was used to identify the glycine receptor macromolecular complex in human spinal cord, substantia nigra, inferior olivary nucleus, and cerebral cortex. In material from control patients a high-affinity K d (3–8 n m ) was observed in the spinal cord and the substantia nigra, both the pars compacta and the pars reticulata. This is very similar to the values observed in the rat and bovine spinal cord (8 and 3 n m , respectively) and rat substantia nigra (12 n m ). In the human brain the distribution of [³H]strychnine binding (at 10 n m ) was: spinal cord – substantia nigra, pars compacta > substantia nigra, pars reticulata = inferior olivary nucleus > cerebral cortex. The binding capacity ( B _max) of the rat brain (substantia nigra or spinal cord) was approximately 10-fold that of the human brain. [ ³ H]Strychnine binding was significantly decreased in the substantia nigra from Parkinson's disease patients, both in the pars compacta (67% of control) and the pars reticulata (50% of control), but not in the inferior olivary nucleus. The results were reproduced in a preliminary experiment in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the medial forebrain bundle. In the substantia nigra from patients who died with Huntington's disease, [³H]strychnine binding tended to be high (150% of control, NS) in both the pars compacta and the reticulata. [³H]Strychnine binding was unaltered in the substantia nigra of patients with senile dementia. Together with previous neurophysiological and neuropharmacological findings, those results support the hypothesis of glycine receptors occurring on dopamine cell bodies and/or dendrites in the substantia nigra.     

Recovery from Goodpasture's syndrome after immunosuppressive treatment and plasmapheresis.

A patient with Goodpasture''s syndrome has recovered after treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (cyclophosphamide and prednisolone) and removal of circulating antibodies by plasma exchange. This was performed on seven occasions and seems to have hastened the decline in circulating antibody levels. Undertaken early in the course of the disease plasmapheresis could prove a useful addition to its therapy.     

Preparation of Purified Suspensions of Coxiella burneti by Genetron Extraction Followed by Continuous-Flow Ultracentrifugation

A method for the preparation of purified suspensions of Coxiella burneti by Genetron extraction followed by continuous-flow density gradient ultracentrifugation is described. Both phases of the Henzerling strain of C. burneti were found in a zone between 53 and 65% (w/w) sucrose. Based on chemical assays, the Genetron zonal rickettsial suspensions were found to be as pure as the rickettsial suspensions which were prepared by the ether extraction method currently in use for producing Q fever vaccines for human use.     

Antigenic stimulation regulates the expression of IL 2 receptors in a cytolytic T lymphocyte clone

We have isolated and characterized an H-2Kb-specific CTL clone, B1.8, whose growth is strictly dependent on IL 2 and periodic exposure to stimulator cells. A single, brief encounter with antigen induces on resting B1.8 cells the expression of high-affinity IL 2 receptors, which is maintained for several days, thus allowing cells to undergo at least six rounds of division in the presence of affinity-purified IL 2. We show with the use of monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 or -H-2Kb antibodies, which block specific antigen recognition by B1.8 cells, that continuous antigenic stimulation is not required during this period of growth. After this time, B1.8 cells lose their ability to respond to IL 2 and revert to a resting state, a process that is reversed upon addition of fresh stimulator cells. The decline and subsequent arrest of cell growth correlates with a loss of IL 2 receptors; growth-arrested cells express a 10-fold lower number of receptors than actively growing cells.