Empathy among undergraduate medical students: A multi-centre cross-sectional comparison of students beginning and approaching the end of their course.

Background: Although a core element in patient care the trajectory of empathy during undergraduate medical education remains unclear. Empathy is generally regarded as comprising an affective capacity: the ability to be sensitive to and concerned for, another and a cognitive capacity: the ability to understand and appreciate the other person's perspective. The authors investigated whether final year undergraduate students recorded lower levels of empathy than their first year counterparts, and whether male and female students differed in this respect.

Increased blood levels of IgG reactive with secreted Streptococcus pyogenes proteins in chronic plaque psoriasis.

A pathogenic role for Streptococcus (S) pyogenes infections in chronic plaque psoriasis is suspected but poorly defined. We separated cellular and supernatant proteins from S. pyogenes cultures by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and used immunoblotting to demonstrate the diversity of serum or plasma IgGs that react with elements of the proteome of this bacterium.

IgE-dependent activation of T cells by allergen in atopic dermatitis: pathophysiologic relevance.

The importance of interactions between allergen and IgE in allergen-mediated activation of T lymphocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is unclear. A role for this interaction is implied by past evidence for IgE-facilitated presentation of allergen to T cells, but this phenomenon has only been demonstrated in specific in vitro systems biased to maximize the effect. It is therefore not known whether the process is relevant in patients.

Recognition of pathogenically relevant house dust mite hypersensitivity in adults with atopic dermatitis: a new approach?

Background: The pathogenic importance of the ubiquitous house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), in atopic dermatitis is unclear.

Objective: We aimed to explore the relevance of Dp hypersensitivity in adult patients with atopic dermatitis by using an in vivo topical challenge method and in vitro assays for T-cell reactivity.

Methods: Dp and control skin prick test solutions were applied to the cubital fossae of 20 patients twice daily for 4 days; the severity of dermatitis and pruritus in the challenge sites were determined before and after testing.