Characterization of a 7 kDa pollen allergen belonging to the gibberellin-regulated protein family from three Cupressaceae species.

BACKGROUND: Severe allergy to fruits mediated by a 7 kDa allergen belonging to the gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) family is known to be associated with Cupressaceae pollinosis. OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize Cupressaceae pollen allergens involved in GRP-related fruit allergy. METHODS: Pru p 7-related proteins from pollen of Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus ashei and Cryptomeria japonica were identified using a rabbit anti-Pru p 7 antiserum, purified chromatographically and sequenced by mass spectrometry and bioinformatic comparisons. The C sempervirens protein was produced as a recombinant allergen in Pichia pastoris. IgE antibody binding to pollen GRP proteins was analysed in a peach allergic (n = 54) and a cypress pollen allergic (n = 88) patient population from southern France using ImmunoCAP. RESULTS: In each of the three Cupressaceae species studied, a 7 kDa pollen protein related to Pru p 7 was identified and found to comprise an amino acid sequence of 63 residues in length, 92%-98% identical to each other and 67%-68% identical to Pru p 7. The C sempervirens, J ashei and C japonica GRP allergens have been officially recognized by the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee and named Cup s 7, Jun a 7 and Cry j 7, respectively. Recombinant Cup s 7 showed IgE antibody binding capacity comparable to that of the purified natural allergen. Among 51 peach allergic subjects sensitized to Pru p 7, substantially higher levels of IgE to Cup s 7 than to Pru p 7 were found. Further, the pollen protein was able to completely outcompete IgE binding to Pru p 7, while the reverse competition effect was modest, consistent with primary sensitization by the pollen allergen. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pru p 7-related pollen allergens from three Cupressaceae species have been characterized and may become useful for the identification of pollinosis patients at risk of developing severe fruit allergy.

Swedish primary healthcare nurses' perceptions of using digital eHealth services in support of patient self-management.

BACKGROUND: Nurses have expressed doubts about the ongoing digitalisation of Swedish primary health care. Given the potential role of eHealth in primary health care, including supporting interactive self-management for people with chronic conditions, it is important to highlight nurses' experiences. This study is part of a larger project aimed at implementing person-centred interactive self-management support (iSMS) in primary health care. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe Swedish primary healthcare nurses' perceptions of using digital eHealth systems and services to support patient self-management. METHODS: Focus group interviews were conducted with primary healthcare nurses (n = 20). The interview transcriptions were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the content analysis: caregiving in the midst of digital chaos; a lack of overview and control in daily work; and mixed feelings towards digitalisation. Each theme was subdivided into three subthemes. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results of this study provide insight into a number of concerns that stand in the way of success when it comes to the implementation and use of digital technology. If nurses are to adapt to the new policies and practices that accompany the current digitalised development in Swedish primary health care, the concept of a nurse's traditional work role needs to be amended in terms of the scope of work tasks and established views of traditional nursing. The study also highlights the need for more research to enable eHealth systems/services to be designed to fulfil multiple requirements. The digitised systems should be a tool for achieving good quality self-management support as well as giving the primary healthcare nurses adequate resources to support patients' self-management while still maintaining the values associated with person-centred care.

Gendered relations? Associations between Swedish parents, siblings, and adolescents' time spent sedentary and physically active.

Introduction: The family is assumed to be fundamental in youth socialization processes and development, connected to social and cultural practices such as healthy lifestyles and physical activity. However, gender patterns in physical activity among adolescents and the structural drivers of gender inequality (e.g., parentage and siblingship) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore further how gender structures relate to adolescents' time spent being sedentary and physically active, using contemporary gender theory. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,139 adolescents aged 13-14 and their parents, including 815 mothers and 572 fathers. Physical activity and time spent sedentary were assessed through accelerometry among adolescents and through a self-report questionnaire for parents validated against accelerometry. Results: The results showed significant relationships between mothers' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and girls' MVPA on weekdays and weekends, and fathers' MVPA was significantly related to girls' MVPA on weekdays. Our results imply that the relationship between Swedish parents' and adolescent girls' physical activity in higher intensities are to some extent gendered practices. However, time spent sedentary does not seem to show any patterns of being performed according to binary ideas of gender. Further, our exploratory analyses suggest that these results somewhat intersect with parents' educational level and relate to intra-categorical aspects of doing gender. The results also indicate slight gendered patterns in the "doing" of brotherhood for time spent sedentary, however, for boys only on weekends. Discussion: The study contributes to the understanding of gender norms as constraints and enablers for adolescents' participation in physical activity. The results can spur public health and physical activity research to apply a contemporary gender theory approach, and to expand the research agenda connected to what relates to gender inequalities in physical activity practices.

Mugwort-sensitized individuals from North Europe, South Europe and North America show different IgE reactivity patterns.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to weed pollen allergens at the molecular level is not fully understood. We studied IgE reactivity to the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 in relation to allergens from other weed pollen and cross-reactive components in mugwort-sensitized subjects. METHODS: Art v 1 and Amb a 1 were affinity purified and coupled to experimental ImmunoCAP® tests. Samples from North Europe (n = 50), South Europe (n = 19) and North America (n = 41) were analyzed for IgE against mugwort pollen, weed allergen components, pan-allergens and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). RESULTS: The prevalence of IgE reactivity (>0.35 kU(A)/l) to Art v 1 was significantly higher in samples from North Europe than in those from North America. IgE to Amb a 1 was more common in North America than in North and South Europe, while IgE to Par j 2 was common in South Europe, less common in North America, and absent in North Europe. IgE to Art v 3 in mugwort-allergic patients was more common in North Europe than in South Europe and North America, while IgE to Sal k 1 was similar between the areas. Subjects with an Art v 1/mugwort-specific IgE ratio <0.5 had more often IgE to Amb a 1, profilin, polcalcin and CCDs than subjects with a ratio >0.5. CONCLUSIONS: Mugwort-sensitized subjects have different IgE reactivity profiles to weed allergens, reflecting their exposure to various pollens. Subjects with a low ratio between the IgE levels to Art v 1 and mugwort have a diverse IgE reactivity profile, indicating a role for cross-reactive allergens in their mugwort sensitization.

Oral baclofen reduces visceral pain-related pseudo-affective responses to colorectal distension in rats: relation between plasma exposure and efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: We previously showed that activation of GABA(B) receptors by intravenous baclofen reduces pseudo-affective responses to colorectal distension in rats. Here we evaluate the potential clinical significance of these observations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinically relevant colorectal distension protocols were used to assess the effects of oral baclofen on visceromotor and autonomic cardiovascular responses in conscious rats. Plasma levels of baclofen were monitored to provide clinical relevance to the doses used. Conscious female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to repeated noxious colorectal distension (12 × 80 mmHg), ascending-phasic colorectal distension (10-80 mmHg, 10 mmHg increments) or ramp colorectal distension (10 min ramp at 8 mmHg/min). Visceromotor and cardiovascular responses (mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate) were monitored. Pain-related response thresholds were assessed using ascending-phasic and ramp colorectal distension. RESULTS: Baclofen (1-10 µmol/kg, p.o.) reduced the visceromotor response to colorectal distension, reaching a 40% maximal inhibition (p < 0.05). The highest dose (10 µmol/kg, p.o.) also inhibited pain-related cardiovascular responses in telemetrized rats (50-55% reduction in colorectal distension-evoked hypertensive and tachycardic responses; p < 0.05). Similar thresholds for pain-related visceromotor responses were determined during ramp or ascending-phasic colorectal distension (34.1 ± 1.9 and 31.7 ± 3.2 mmHg, respectively). Baclofen (10 µmol/kg, p.o.) increased thresholds to 71.1 ± 3.7 and 77.5 ± 1.8 mmHg during ramp and ascending-phasic colorectal distension, respectively (p < 0.001). Plasma levels of baclofen were 3.3 ± 0.2 µmol/l at 90 min post-dosing, corresponding to the end of the colorectal distension procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Oral baclofen, at plasma levels similar to those reported safe and within a therapeutic range in humans, produced significant visceral anti-nociceptive effects in rats.

Genuine Movement Learning Through a Deleuzian Approach.

The purpose of the article is to outline how Deleuzian concepts, notably the notions of apprenticeship in signs based on a pedagogy of the concept, can stimulate thinking and understanding of movement learning, and provide insights about pedagogical implications in various movement educational settings. Methodologically, the article falls somewhere in between theoretical exposition and presentation of original empirical research, i.e., a "theoreticoempirical" exposition. We borrowed some ideas formulated by Deleuze (and Guattari), which have been further developed by educational researchers, about "an apprenticeship in signs" based on "a pedagogy of the concept," to analyse situations where students explore new movements. We use material generated from pedagogical interventions comprising of exploration of kinescapes. In these interventions, school and university students are encouraged to explore, and learn, juggling, unicycling and dancing. Findings indicate how students pass through interpretative illusions until some of them grasp difference in itself in what could be called its immanent differentiation of the actual, i.e., they learn how to juggle, unicycle or dance. This is what we designate genuine learning. The triadic relation between concepts, percepts and affects offer us clues to what juggling, unicycling or dancing mean to learners (concepts), what learners pay attention to while practising (percepts), and what gets them moving (affects). Importantly, through viewing learning as an apprenticeship in signs, the Deleuzian approach reminds us that the triadic relation is open-ended, meaning that concepts, percepts and affects are never final but always a potential actualisation. Concepts, percepts and affects are constantly in the process of becoming. Since genuine learning is not about narrowing down how a movement should be executed and experienced, the task of a movement educator could, then, be to accompany learners in explorative pursuits. In this way, teachers can help learners escape preconceptions about movements (who can do what and when) and instead explore new movement opportunities.

Associations between the School Environment and Physical Activity Pattern during School Time in Swedish Adolescents.

Knowledge about associations between school-based initiatives and physical activity patterns is limited. The purpose of this paper was to examine associations between factors in the school environment, physical activity and sedentary time during school time. The cross-sectional study included 1139 adolescents aged 13-14 from 34 schools. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using hip-worn accelerometers. Factors in the school environment included health policy, a mobile phone ban during breaks, organized physical activities during breaks and activity breaks during lessons reported by teachers. The frequency and duration of breaks and physical education (PE) lessons were collected from school schedules. The results showed significant associations between health policy (ß = 3.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.37, 5.23), the mobile phone ban (ß = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.94) and PE; total duration (ß = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.11), average duration (ß = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.13) and frequency (ß = 1.73, 95% CI: 0.50, 3.04) and moderate-vigorous physical activity. There were negative associations between health policy (ß = -6.41, 95% CI: -10.24, -2.67), the mobile phone ban (ß = -3.75, 95% CI: -7.25, -0.77) and PE; total duration (ß = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.23, -0.08) and average duration (ß = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.27, -0.03) and time spent sedentary. Adolescents attending schools with health policies, mobile phone bans and more time for PE showed higher levels of physical activity and lower sedentary time.