24 research outputs found
Effect of inhaled platelet-activating factor on bronchial inflammation in atopic non-asthmatic subjects
No full textWe have investigated the effect of inhaled platelet-activating factor (PAF) on bronchial mucosal inflammation in 6 atopic non-asthmatic subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised and crossover study. On 2 study periods at least 4 weeks apart, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed 24 h after inhalation of either 200 micrograms PAF or methacholine (control) to obtain endobronchial biopsies. Immunocytochemistry using antibodies for trypase (AA1) and eosinophil cationic protein (EG2) was performed to enumerate mast cells and eosinophils, respectively, in the bronchial submucosa. Median values of AA1+ cells and EG2+ cells did not differ significantly after inhalation of PAF or control (23.8 vs. 39 and 6 vs. 8/mm2, respectively, PAF vs. control, non-significant). Our findings suggest that within 24 h of inhaling a bronchoconstrictor dose of PAF, this agonist does not induce bronchial hyperresponsiveness or mucosal inflammation in atopic non-asthmatic subjects. However, because of the small number of subjects studied, these preliminary data should be interpreted with caution
The role of 15-(s)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and platelet activating factor in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma
No full textSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX173414 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo
Een kwantitatieve analyse van Nederlandse bijdragen aan internationaal arbeids- en organisatiepsychologisch onderzoek
No full textThe author reports a quantitative analysis of the absolute and relative numbers of publications in six high-ranking journals on work and organisational psychology, (co-)authored by scientists with a Dutch, German, or British affiliation. In contrast to Germany and Great Britain, analyses reveal a strong growth in both publications and citations for publications with a Dutch affiliation from 1990-1999 and 2000-2009. Content analyses of the top twenty most-cited articles in each period reveals that Dutch scientists contribute to work and organisational psychology influential research in the areas of psychological well-being (stress, burnout) and group processes, including conflict management and team performance
Oxytocin modulates cooperation within and competition between groups: an integrative review and research agenda
No full textThe author reviews evidence that hypothalamic release (or infusion) of the neuropeptide oxytocin modulates the regulation of cooperation and conflict among humans because of three reasons. First, oxytocin enables social categorization of others into in-group versus out-group. Second, oxytocin dampens amygdala activity and enables the development of trust. Third, and finally, oxytocin up-regulates neural circuitries (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus) involved in empathy and other-concern. Consistent with an evolutionary perspective on the functionality of cooperation, it is concluded that oxytocin-motivated cooperation is mostly parochial—it motivates (i) in-group favoritism, (ii) cooperation towards in-group but not out-group members, and (iii) defense-motivated non-cooperation towards threatening outsiders. Thus, in addition to its well-known role in reproduction and pair-bond formation, oxytocin's primary functions include in-group "tend-and-defend." This review concludes with avenues for new research on oxytocin's functions in within-group cooperation and between-group competition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior
Elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in lung cancer and the effect of surgery
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Overweight/obesity and respiratory and allergic disease in children: international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) phase two.
No full textBACKGROUND: Childhood obesity and asthma are increasing worldwide. A possible link between the two conditions has been postulated.
METHODS: Cross-sectional studies of stratified random samples of 8-12-year-old children (n = 10 652) (16 centres in affluent and 8 centres in non-affluent countries) used the standardized methodology of ISAAC Phase Two. Respiratory and allergic symptoms were ascertained by parental questionnaires. Tests for allergic disease were performed. Height and weight were measured, and overweight and obesity were defined according to international definitions. Prevalence rates and prevalence odds ratios were calculated.
RESULTS: Overweight (odds ratio = 1.14, 95%-confidence interval: 0.98; 1.33) and obesity (odds ratio = 1.67, 95%-confidence interval: 1.25; 2.21) were related to wheeze. The relationship was stronger in affluent than in non-affluent centres. Similar results were found for cough and phlegm, rhinitis and eczema but the associations were mostly driven by children with wheeze. There was a clear association of overweight and obesity with airways obstruction (change in FEV1/FVC, -0.90, 95%-confidence interval: -1.33%; -0.47%, for overweight and -2.46%, 95%-confidence interval: -3.84%; -1.07%, for obesity) whereas the results for the other objective markers, including atopy, were null.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data from a large international child population confirm that there is a strong relation of body mass index with wheeze especially in affluent countries. Moreover, body mass index is associated with an objective marker of airways obstruction (FEV1/FVC) but no other objective markers of respiratory and allergic disorders
Anxiety and the management of asthma in an adult outpatient population
No full textReview of the literature suggests that anxiety is more common among patients with asthma than among the general population, yet it does not appear to be given the attention it deserves as part of the overall management of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and asthma management, in terms of Global Initiative for Asthma steps, lung function and medication.
Methods: A total of 201 consecutive patients with respiratory physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited from an adult outpatient asthma clinic. Participants underwent a sociodemographic review, and a medical interview which included a detailed drug history. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were recorded using a Micro Medical portable spirometer. The level of anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Results: A total of 51.5% of participants registered clinically significant levels of anxiety. Of these only 21% had already been diagnosed and were receiving treatment. Females reported significantly higher BAI scores than males (p<0.01). More females (66.3%) registered clinically significant levels of anxiety as compared with males (33.7%) (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the BAI score and the prescribed dose of inhaled glucocorticoids (rs¼0.150, p<0.05) and between anxiety and GINA treatment step (rs¼0.139, p<0.05). There was also a positive correlation between anxiety and the number of medicines taken by patients (rs¼0.259, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Physicians treating patients with asthma should be sensitised to the association between asthma and anxiety, and should also consider assessing patients for the possibility of anxiety disorders as part of asthma management plans.peer-reviewe
About prisoners and dictators: the role of other-self focus, social value orientation, and sterotype primes in shaping cooperative behavior.
No full textSix experiments examined the effects of person factors (i.e., social value orientation and consistency) and situation factors (i.e., stereotype primes) on cooperative behavior in various experimental games. Results indicated that the main and joint influences of person and situation factors on cooperative choices depend on the nature of the game (i.e., prisoner's dilemma or dictator game). Social value orientation, consistency, and primes affect cooperative behavior only in a dictator game, while these factors also lead to rumination about partner's behavioral intentions and personality (and therefore to different cooperative choices) in a prisoner's dilemma game. Differences between these games were explained in terms of the impact they have on other- and self-focus.Choice; Consistency; Dictator game; Effects; Factors; Prisoner's dilemma game; Social Value Orientation; Stereotype Priming; Value;
