Stressful life events in childhood and allergic sensitization.

Stressful life events evidently have an impact on development of allergic diseases, but the mechanism linking stress to pathological changes of immune system function is still not fully understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between stressful life events, neuropeptide and cytokine concentrations in children as well as the association between early stressful life events and atopic eczema (AE). Within the LISA plus (Life style - Immune system - Allergy) study, blood samples from children of 6 years of age were analyzed for concentration of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), substance P (SP) and the Th1/Th2 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4.

Caries-Preventive Effect of Salt Fluoridation in Preschool Children in The Gambia: A Prospective, Controlled, Interventional Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticaries effect of fluoridated salt in a communal feeding program for preschool children. In the Gambian city of Brikama, drinking water had a low fluoride content (0.1 mg F-/L) and young children did not use toothpaste for oral hygiene.

The effect of attending steiner schools during childhood on health in adulthood: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Background: It is speculated that attending Steiner schools, whose pedagogical principles include an account for healthy psycho-physical development, may have long-term beneficial health effects. We examined whether the current health status differed between former attendees of German Steiner schools and adults from the general population. Furthermore, we examined factors that might explain those differences.

MRI plaque imaging detects carotid plaques with a high risk for future cerebrovascular events in asymptomatic patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively whether MRI plaque imaging can identify patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis who have an increased risk for future cerebral events. MRI plaque imaging allows categorization of carotid stenosis into different lesion types (I-VIII). Within these lesion types, lesion types IV-V and VI are regarded as rupture-prone plaques, whereas the other lesion types represent stable ones.

[Preventive advice-giving: self-assessment of general practitioners in Brandenburg].

Introduction: Improving individual health behaviour is a promising approach especially in cardiovascular prevention. In general practice, preventive advice-giving is hitherto put into practice insufficiently. The study explores which role general practitioners are willing and able to play in behaviour-oriented prevention.

Does self-regulation and autonomic regulation have an influence on survival in breast and colon carcinoma patients? results of a prospective outcome study.

Background: Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF) and circadian rhythm have a great impact on the quality of life (HRQL) of patients with breast (BC) and colon cancer (CRC). Other patient related outcomes in oncology are measured by new instruments focusing on adaptive characteristics such as sense of coherence or self-regulation, which could be more appropriate as a prognostic tool than classical HRQL. The aim of this study was to assess the association of autonomic regulation (aR) and self-regulation (SR) with survival.

[Check up 35: what benefits do general practitioners in Brandenburg see?].

Introduction: The so-called "Check up 35" is a structured preventive examination to be conducted by primary care providers. Recent interviews have shown that expectations with regard to this examination vary among physicians; some of them expressed doubt that the consultation is useful at all. The aim of this study was to representatively examine Brandenburg's family physicians' attitudes towards this "Check up".

Anthroposophic medicine in pediatric primary care: a prospective, multicenter observational study on prescribing patterns.

Background: Although the treatment of children has been a core domain ofanthroposophic medicine since its inception, a systematic analysis of anthroposophic therapies in pediatric primary care is still lacking. This study describes the spectrum of diagnoses and therapies observed in children treated in everyday anthroposophic practice.

Methods: Thirty-eight primary care physicians in Germany participated in this prospective, multicenter observational study on prescribing patterns.

Chronic rhinosinusitis in Europe--an underestimated disease. A GA²LEN study.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common health problem, with significant medical costs and impact on general health. Even so, prevalence figures for Europe are unavailable. In this study, conducted by the GA²LEN network of excellence, the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and nasal Polyps (EP³OS) diagnostic criteria are applied to estimate variation in the prevalence of Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) for Europe.

Use of a common food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary patterns and their relation to allergy and asthma in Europe: pilot study of the GA2LEN FFQ.

Background/objectives: Comparable international data on food and nutrient intake is often hindered by the lack of a common instrument to assess food intake. The objective of this study was within the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network of Excellence (GA(2)LEN), we developed and piloted a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess its validity in Europe.

Subjects/methods: Five countries participating in GA(2)LEN took part in the pilot study.

Knowledge of risk factors, and warning signs of stroke: a systematic review from a gender perspective.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death globally. Awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs are important for stroke prevention and seeking care. The purpose of this systematic review was to review existing literature that assessed the knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs and allowed separate gender analysis.

MRI plaque imaging reveals high-risk carotid plaques especially in diabetic patients irrespective of the degree of stenosis.

Background: Plaque imaging based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a new modality for risk assessment in atherosclerosis. It allows classification of carotid plaques in high-risk and low-risk lesion types (I-VIII). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) represents a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, but its specific influence on plaque vulnerability is not fully understood.

Integration of complementary and alternative medicine into medical schools in Austria, Germany and Switzerland--results of a cross-sectional study.

Background: The results of a survey of decision makers (directors of clinical departments, along with research and education institutes) at German medical schools in 1997 demonstrated that although most respondents were in favour of integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into medical school curricula, only a minority had implemented these into their medical schools. The aims of this study were to evaluate the current opinions on CAM from decision makers at medical schools in three German-speaking countries and the present extent to which it has been integrated.

Methods: In 2004 we sent a standardised questionnaire to 1,017 department directors at medical schools in Austria (A, n = 75), Germany (G, n = 873) and Switzerland (CH, n = 69).

Counseling overweight patients: analysis of preventive encounters in primary care.

Objective: The increasing prevalence of obesity requires particularly primary care providers to take action. The aim of this study was to analyze general practitioners (GPs) encounters with overweight and obese patients in primary care to test the hypothesis that patients with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² would have longer consultations focusing on lifestyle-related issues like nutrition and physical activity than those with a BMI < 30 kg/m².

Design: Cross sectional comparison of audiotaped encounters of patients with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and those with a BMI < 30 kg/m².

Pharmacotherapy of elderly patients in everyday anthroposophic medical practice: a prospective, multicenter observational study.

Background: Pharmacotherapy in the older adult is a complex field involving several different medical professionals. The evidence base for pharmacotherapy in elderly patients in primary care relies on only a few clinical trials, thus documentation must be improved, particularly in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) like phytotherapy, homoeopathy, and anthroposophic medicine. This study describes diagnoses and therapies observed in elderly patients treated with anthroposophic medicine in usual care.

Prognostic value of the ABCD2 score beyond short-term follow-up after transient ischemic attack (TIA)--a cohort study.

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients are at a high vascular risk. Recently the ABCD2 score was validated for evaluating short-term stroke risk after TIA. We assessed the value of this score to predict the vascular outcome after TIA during medium- to long-term follow-up.

The natural history of allergic rhinitis in childhood.

The distinction between 'seasonal' and 'perennial' allergic rhinitis (AR) is not always adequate. The 'Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma' (ARIA) work group suggested a new classification for AR based on severity and duration of symptoms. Our primary aim was to describe the natural history and burden of AR according to the new ARIA criteria in a population-based birth cohort study of children up to 13 yr.

Effectiveness of nonpharmacological secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Aim: To summarize the current evidence with regard to the effectiveness of nonpharmacological secondary prevention strategies of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to investigate the comparative effectiveness of interventions of different categories, specific intervention components and the effectiveness in patient subgroups.

Methods: A structured search of databases and manual search were conducted. Clinical trials and meta-analyses published between January 2003 and September 2008 were included if they targeted adults with CHD, had a follow-up of at least 12 months, and reported mortality, cardiac events or quality of life.

Patent foramen ovale is not associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence.

Background And Purpose: Despite numerous studies suggesting a relationship between paradoxical embolism from a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and stroke, the role of PFO as a risk factor for cerebral ischaemia remains controversial. We therefore sought to determine the association between a RLS detected by contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (c-TCD) and recurrent stroke in an unselected population sample.

Methods: We analyzed the records of 763 patients with diagnosis of cerebral ischaemia at our institution.

Stress-related maternal factors during pregnancy in relation to childhood eczema: results from the LISA Study.

Background: Stress has been suggested to impact the onset and exacerbation of eczema and other atopic disorders. Whether early exposure to stress-related factors might exert long-term effects remains to be clarified.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether stress-related maternal factors during pregnancy are associated with childhood eczema during the first 6 years of life.

Evaluation of prescribing patterns in a German network of CAM physicians for the treatment of patients with hypertension: a prospective observational study.

Background: The management of hypertension is a key challenge in modern health systems. This study aimed to investigate hypertension treatment strategies among physicians specialized in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Germany by analysing prescribing patterns and comparing these to the current treatment guidelines issued by the German Hypertension Society.

Methods: In this prospective, multicentre observational study, which included 25 primary care physicians specialized in CAM treatment, prescriptions and diagnoses were analysed for each consecutive hypertensive patient using routine electronic data.

Dynamic evolution of serum immunoglobulin E to airborne allergens throughout childhood: results from the Multi-Centre Allergy Study birth cohort.

Background: Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma evolve dynamically throughout childhood. Yet, data on the evolution of serum levels of IgE antibodies against airborne allergens throughout the first decade of life are scarce.

Objective: To describe the patterns of new and persistent sensitization against airborne allergens including remission from birth to 10 years of age and the long-term clinical outcomes up to the age of 13 years.

Diagnostic profiles and prescribing patterns in everyday anthroposophic medical practice--a prospective multi-centre study.

Background: Although anthroposophic medicine has been used for more than 80 years and global interest in complementary treatments is increasing, a comprehensive and long-term description of everyday anthroposophic care is still lacking. Our study aims to evaluate how anthroposophic medicine is practised under everyday conditions.

Methods: A total of 38 primary-care physicians in Germany participated in this prospective, multi-centre observational study.

Educational intervention to improve physician reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in a primary care setting in complementary and alternative medicine.

Background: Recent studies have shown that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are underreported. This may be particularly true of ADRs associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Data on CAM-related ADRs, however, are sparse.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography predicts cardiovascular events after TIA.

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients are at high vascular risk. We assessed the value of extracranial (ECD) and transcranial (TCD) Doppler and duplex ultrasonography to predict clinical outcome after TIA.

Methods: 176 consecutive TIA patients admitted to the Stroke Unit were recruited in the study.