Emotional reactions to pain predict psychological distress in adult patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

Differentiating somatic from emotional influences on the experience of chronic pain has been of interest to clinicians and researchers for many years. Although prior research has not well specified these pathways at the anatomical level, some evidence, both theoretical and empirical, suggest that emotional reactions influence the experience of disease and non-disease-related pains. Other studies suggest that treatments directed at negative emotional responses reduce suffering associated with pain.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose, randomized study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on cognition of AL-108 after 12 weeks of intranasal administration in subjects with mild cognitive impairment.

Background/aims: AL-108-211 was a placebo-controlled, ascending-dose study that explored the safety, tolerability and efficacy of 12 weeks of treatment with AL-108 in subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Methods: A total of 144 subjects were randomized in a 2:1 drug:placebo ratio. Subjects were enrolled into the low-dose group or placebo and then to the high-dose group or placebo.

Deficiency of α-1-antitrypsin influences systemic iron homeostasis.

There is evidence that proteases and antiproteases participate in the iron homeostasis of cells and living systems. We tested the postulate that α-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) polymorphism and the consequent deficiency of this antiprotease in humans are associated with a systemic disruption in iron homeostasis. Archived plasma samples from Alpha-1 Foundation (30 MM, 30 MZ, and 30 ZZ individuals) were analyzed for A1AT, ferritin, transferrin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

A multi-center ring trial of allergen analysis using fluorescent multiplex array technology.

Background: Consistent performance of allergen assays is essential to ensure reproducibility of exposure assessments for investigations of asthma and occupational allergic disease. This study evaluated intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility of a fluorescent multiplex array, which simultaneously measures eight indoor allergens in a single reaction well.

Methods: A multi-center study was performed in nine laboratories in the US and Europe to determine the inter-laboratory variability of an 8-plex array for dust mite, cat, dog, rat, mouse and cockroach allergens.