Coagulation testing in the evaluation of suspected child abuse.

Every year in Germany nearly 3000 cases of child abuse were reported. When children are presented at emergency units with suspicious injuries and bruises a detailed documentation an evaluation is necessary after emergency treatment. As differential diagnosis inherited or acquired bleeding disorders should be excluded.

Metalworking exposures and persistent skin symptoms in the ECRHS II and SAPALDIA 2 cohorts.

Background: Diseases of the skin are important and often preventable conditions occurring among workers with dermal exposures to irritant and sensitizing agents.

Objective: We conducted this analysis to assess the associations between metalworking exposures and current and persistent skin symptoms among male and female participants in two population-based epidemiologic studies.

Methods: We pooled data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) and the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Disease in Adults 2 (SAPALDIA 2), two prospective cohort studies in Europe.

Food intake-independent effects of CB1 antagonism on glucose and lipid metabolism.

Overactivity of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been linked to abdominal obesity and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Conversely, administration of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonists reduces adiposity in obese animals and humans. This effect is only in part secondary to the anorectic action of CB1 agonists.

Haemostatic testing prior to elective surgery in children? Not always!

In Germany, preoperative coagulation tests are commonly used, based on the belief that these tests should identify patients with an increased bleeding risk. However, published evidence does not longer support this approach for both traditional screening tests and novel techniques of global assessment of haemostasis. Unselected screening yields many false positive results and detects irrelevant disorders.

Hemodynamic effects of levobupivacaine after pediatric caudal anesthesia evaluated by transesophageal doppler.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine if there are significant differences in hemodynamic effects between combined general-regional anesthesia using levobupivacaine 0.25% 2 ml x kg(-1) via the caudal route in comparison with balanced general anesthesia using continuous infusion of remifentanil in young children undergoing genitourinary surgery.

Patients And Methods: 62 ASA I-II pediatric patients (12 female, 50 male) aged 6 months to 7 years undergoing genitourinary surgery were included in the study.

Inhalation incidents and respiratory health: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Background: Inhalation incidents are an important cause of acute respiratory symptoms, but little is known about how these incidents affect chronic respiratory health.

Methods: We assessed reported inhalation incidents among 3,763 European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) participants with and without cough, phlegm, asthma, wheezing or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We then examined whether inhalation incidents during the 9-year ECRHS follow-up period were associated with a new onset of any of these respiratory outcomes among 2,809 participants who were free of all five outcomes at the time of the baseline ECRHS survey.

[Prevalence of occupational allergic symptoms among bakers of Verona].

The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory and skin symptoms among bakers in the district of Verona by means of two standardized questionnaires, a clinical one administered to the bakeries employees, either directly exposed to flour dust or not exposed, and one concerning the characteristics of the bakery environment. The study involved 613 bakery workers, 401 bakers and 212 sales personnel employed in 152 bakeries. Bakers exposed to flour dust reported nasal symptoms in 29.

Individual versus group therapy for obesity: comparison of dropout rate and treatment outcome.

Aims: To compare outcome and dropout rates of an individual nutritional counselling (IT) and a cognitive behavioural group therapy (GT) after 6 months of treatment.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-nine women (72 in the IT and 57 in the GT group) aged 18-65 years, with body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m(2). Body weight, height and waist circumference were measured.

The contribution of capillaroscopy to the differential diagnosis of connective autoimmune diseases.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is one of the earliest clinical hallmarks of microvascular involvement in several connective autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The direct observation of the microvasculature with nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is useful for an early diagnosis of connective autoimmune diseases (secondary RP) and differentiation from primary (unsymptomatic) RP. Generally, to detect early pathologic capillaroscopic changes, the following parameters are considered: presence of enlarged and giant capillaries, haemorrhages, disorganization of the vascular array, ramified/bushy capillaries and loss of capillaries.

Isolation and identification of two lipid transfer proteins in pomegranate (Punica granatum).

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are a family of low molecular mass (7-9 kDa) polypeptides, the members of which share 35-95% sequence homology. These proteins are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom and are receiving attention for their biochemical characteristics and biological activity. LTPs are indeed studied in different research fields varying from allergy to food technology, and numerous molecules belonging to this class are progressively being identified and investigated.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in an observational study in the 'Alto Molise' region: the MOLI-SAL project.

Background And Aims: The Mediterranean diet is reportedly a healthy eating pattern with protective effects on chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and anthropometric and metabolic variables in a rural setting in southern Italy, in the context of a health screening initiative.

Methods And Results: Five hundred and twenty-two healthy participants from the "Alto Molise" region in southern Italy were studied.

Exposure to substances in the workplace and new-onset asthma: an international prospective population-based study (ECRHS-II).

Background: The role of exposure to substances in the workplace in new-onset asthma is not well characterised in population-based studies. We therefore aimed to estimate the relative and attributable risks of new-onset asthma in relation to occupations, work-related exposures, and inhalation accidents.

Methods: We studied prospectively 6837 participants from 13 countries who previously took part in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (1990-95) and did not report respiratory symptoms or a history of asthma at the time of the first study.

The use of household cleaning sprays and adult asthma: an international longitudinal study.

Rationale: Cleaning work and professional use of certain cleaning products have been associated with asthma, but respiratory effects of nonprofessional home cleaning have rarely been studied.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of new-onset asthma in relation to the use of common household cleaners.

Methods: Within the follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in 10 countries, we identified 3,503 persons doing the cleaning in their homes and who were free of asthma at baseline.

Bronchial responsiveness in atopic adults increases with exposure to cat allergen.

Rationale: The association of asthma with sensitization and allergen exposure is known to be complex. There have been few studies of bronchial responsiveness in relation to both risk factors in adults.

Objectives: To determine the relation of bronchial responsiveness to allergen exposure and IgE sensitization in a community study taking into account the major determinants of bronchial responsiveness in adulthood.

Eczema, atopy and allergen exposure in adults: a population-based study.

Background: There are few published studies on geographical variation in prevalence of eczema in adults or its association with recognised risk factors for allergic disease.

Objective: To describe the geographical variation in prevalence of eczema in adults, assess the associations with sociodemographic risk factors, serum-specific IgE and IgG, and exposure to allergen.

Methods: A community-based sample of 8206 adults aged 27-56 years, in 25 European centres and Portland, USA, provided questionnaire information on symptoms of eczema.

Employment status and use of respiratory protection among metalworkers, solderers and welders.

Objectives: Reported associations of self-employment with occupational injury and cerebrovascular disease suggest that worker safety and health precautions may vary by occupational status. The authors assessed the extent to which use of respiratory protection and ventilation equipment is associated with self-employed versus employee status among adults in an international study.

Methods: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) is a follow-up study conducted in a population-based random sample of adult ECRHS I participants.

Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the shoulder in 126 dogs.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the shoulder joint was treated by arthroscopy in 126 dogs. Twenty-four dogs had bilateral surgery, making a total of 150 joints treated. The OCD flaps were removed in small pieces through the cannula or in a single piece through a stab incision.

Occupational risk factors for asthma among nurses and related healthcare professionals in an international study.

Objective: The authors examined the relations between self-reported work tasks, use of cleaning products and latex glove use with new-onset asthma among nurses and other healthcare workers in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II).

Methods: In a random population sample of adults from 22 European sites, 332 participants reported working in nursing and other related healthcare jobs during the nine-year ECRHS II follow-up period and responded to a supplemental questionnaire about their principal work settings, occupational tasks, products used at work and respiratory symptoms. Poisson regression models with robust error variances were used to compare the risk of new-onset asthma among healthcare workers with each exposure to that of respondents who reported professional or administrative occupations during the entire follow-up period (n = 2481).

[First results of the THROMKID study: a quality project for the registration of children und adolescents with hereditary platelet function defects in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland].

THROMKID is a quality project of the Paediatric Group of German Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Society (GTH). Data from paediatric patients with hereditary thrombocytopathies (HT) treated in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were obtained between May 2005 and August 2006. By evaluation of results of platelet function tests criteria were determined to assess the diagnosis in each patient into most likely, likely or unlikely.

Cat and dust mite allergen levels, specific IgG and IgG4, and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Background: Exposure to allergen may induce a modified T(H)2 response characterized by high IgG(4) levels, absence of IgE sensitization, and a decreased risk of allergic respiratory symptoms.

Objective: To assess the association of IgG(4) level with allergic respiratory symptoms in a community-based sample of adults.

Methods: Information on exposure to cats, respiratory symptoms, and mattress allergen levels was obtained from 2780 adults.