Treatment preferences of overweight youth and their parents in Western Canada.

The purpose of this study was to examine the family environment and assess treatment preferences among overweight youth and their parents. Data were collected via 41 interviews with parents and children from the wait-list of a weight management clinic and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Framed around an ecological framework, findings ranged from proximal family issues to more distal policy issues.

Absence of nasal mucosal atrophy with fluticasone aqueous nasal spray.

Objective: To evaluate whether 1 year of continuous treatment with intranasal fluticasone propionate would lead to atrophy in the nasal mucosa compared with an active control, oral terfenadine.

Design: Prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group study.

Setting: Two tertiary care academic institutions.

Mutation in the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis and predisposition to chronic rhinosinusitis in the general population.

Context: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition in the US general population, yet little is known about its underlying molecular cause. Chronic rhinosinusitis is a consistent feature of the autosomal recessive disorder cystic fibrosis (CF).

Objective: To determine whether mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene, which is responsible for CF, predispose to CRS.

Nasal provocation with allergen induces a secondary serum IgE antibody response.

The study of the IgE response to seasonal antigen exposure is limited by its occurrence once a year and by the variability of patient exposure to pollens. To overcome these problems, we investigated whether nasal challenge with antigen causes an increase in serum anti-ragweed IgE levels. We challenged individuals with ragweed allergy intranasally with nanogram quantities of ragweed antigen extract and measured their serum anti-ragweed IgE levels before and at weekly intervals after challenge.

A double-blind study of the discontinuation of ragweed immunotherapy.

Background: Immunotherapy effectively treats the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and improves its pathophysiology. We studied whether the effects of immunotherapy on the early response to nasal challenge with antigen and seasonal symptoms persist after discontinuation.

Methods: Twenty subjects with ragweed allergy who were receiving immunotherapy and who had nasal challenges performed before initiation of treatment were selected.

Duration of action of intranasal atropine on methacholine-induced nasal secretions.

Objective: To evaluate the duration of the inhibitory action of intranasal atropine on the secretory response to nasal challenge with methacholine.

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover trial.

Subjects: Twelve volunteers with perennial allergic rhinitis.