[Physical activity has an acute effect on depression and anxiety syndromes].

Physical activity has a preventive and an acute effect on both depression and anxiety syndromes. The effect of just physical activity, usually 3 times/week for 8-12 weeks, is equal to treatment with psychotherapy or antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, according to several meta-analyses. Addition of physical exercise to psychotherapy has a significantly greater effect than psychotherapy alone.

[Physical activity is just as good as CBT or drugs for depression].

In this article on the effect of physical activity on depression, data have been drawn from several meta-analyses, in particular, the latest Cochrane review entitled »Exercise for depression« published in 2013. The results show that physical activity can help prevent the onset and relapse of depression. Depressed people should be recommended aerobic or muscular strength training.

Asthma and allergy patterns over 18 years after severe RSV bronchiolitis in the first year of life.

Background: An increased prevalence of asthma/recurrent wheeze (RW), clinical allergy and allergic sensitisation up to age 13 years has previously been reported in subjects hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in their first year of life compared with matched controls. A study was undertaken to examine whether these features persist into early adulthood, to report longitudinal wheeze and allergy patterns, and to see how large and small airway function relates to RSV infection and asthma.

Methods: Follow-up at age 18 years was performed in 46 of 47 subjects with RSV and 92 of 93 controls.

Association between Gm allotypes and asthma severity from childhood to young middle age.

Immunoglobulin constant heavy G chain (IGHG) gene polymorphisms are associated with atopy and can be determined by the serum Gm allotypes. We studied whether certain polymorphisms are related to asthma severity and to the extent or intensity of allergic sensitization in asthmatic subjects followed from childhood to young middle age. Fifty-five subjects (28 males) with childhood asthma were all followed-up prospectively on six occasions from a mean age of 9 to 35 years in a study including asthma severity scoring, spirometry, skin prick, and specific serum IgE antibody testing.

Severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infancy and asthma and allergy at age 13.

We have prospectively studied wheezing disorder and allergy in 47 children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infancy and 93 matched control subjects. Subjects with at least three episodes of wheezing were defined as recurrent wheezers and as having asthma if the episodes were doctor verified. Here we report the outcome at age 13 years in 46/47 children with RSV and 92/93 control subjects.

Controlled withdrawal of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs in elderly patients in nursing homes with no indication of depression.

Objective: The aim of the investigation was to study the effects of withdrawing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs in nursing home patients, who had no documented diagnosis or symptoms of depression.

Setting: The setting of the study was in 11 nursing homes in the county of Stockholm, Sweden.

Participants: Participants were patients without dementia or history of depression who had received treatment with SSRI drugs for more than 6 months and who had no indications of anxiety disorder or major depression

Design: The included patients ( n=70) were randomized to either the intervention group (withdrawal of SSRI) or the control group (no change in treatment), 35 patients to each group.