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BACKGROUND: IgE antibodies to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) are usually clinically irrelevant but they can be a cause of false positive outcomes of allergen-specific IgE tests in vitro. Their prevalence and levels have been so far cross-sectionally examined among adult allergic patients and much less is known about their origins and relevance in childhood. METHODS: We examined CCD with a cross-sectional approach in 1263 Italian pollen allergic children (Panallergen in Paediatrics, PAN-PED), as well as with a longitudinal approach in 612 German children (Multicenter Allergy Study, MAS), whose cutaneous and IgE sensitization profile to a broad panel of allergen extracts and molecules was already known. The presence and levels of IgE to CCD were examined in the sera of both cohorts using bromelain (MUXF3) as reagent and a novel chemiluminescence detection system, operating in a solid phase of fluorescently labelled and streptavidin-coated paramagnetic microparticles (NOVEOS, HYCOR, USA). RESULTS: IgE to CCD was found in 22% of the Italian pollen allergic children, mainly in association with an IgE response to grass pollen. Children with IgE to CCD had higher total IgE levels and were sensitized to more allergenic molecules of Phleum pratense than those with no IgE to CCD. Among participants of the German MAS birth cohort study, IgE to CCD emerged early in life (even at pre-school age), with IgE sensitization to group 1 and 4 allergen molecules of grasses, and almost invariably persisted over the full observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results contribute to dissect the immunological origins, onset, evolution and risk factors of CCD-sIgE response in childhood, and raise the hypothesis that group 1 and/or 4 allergen molecules of grass pollen are major inducers of these antibodies through an antigen-specific, T-B cell cognate interaction.
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Hipersensibilidade , Imunoglobulina E , Adulto , Humanos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Prevalência , Alérgenos , Carboidratos , Fatores de Risco , Reações CruzadasRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The demand for complementary medicine (CM) is well studied in the outpatient sector, but representative data on type and extent of inpatient care using CM are missing. Therefore, our aim was to examine the range of CM treatments offered and the types of indications for using CM in acute care hospitals in the German state of Bavaria. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey by contacting the medical heads of all 388 Bavarian acute care hospitals between November 2020 and April 2021. The questionnaire included a wide range of CM to assessed availability of CM supply, most frequent indications, and medical specialities. Furthermore, we assessed basic information about the hospital and the participating medical staff. RESULTS: A total of 101 (26%) hospitals participated in the survey. At least one CM treatment was offered by 92% of the responding hospitals and 75% offered at least 5 therapy modalities (mean of 10 treatments, range: 0-25). These were most commonly massage therapies (68%), relaxation techniques (63%), phytotherapy (60%), mindfulness-based treatments (53%), art, diet, and exercise therapies (each 48%), aromatherapy (46%), acupuncture, and compresses/poultices (both 42%). The most reported medical conditions for CM treatments (in descending order) were chronic pain, mental disorders, degenerative affections, sleep disorders, fatigue syndrome, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and acute pain. CONCLUSION: According to the Bavarian acute care hospitals that participated in our postal survey, a considerable part offered CM. Further research should include personal interviews and more detailed assessments of indications and attitudes for the use of CM in acute care hospital settings.
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Terapias Complementares , Humanos , Estudos Transversais , Fitoterapia , Hospitais , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Germany, complementary medicine is used by up to 62% of patients, but type and extent of in-patient complementary care are not known. The objective of this study was, therefore, to conduct a survey on complementary medicine procedures in Bavarian acute care hospitals by screening the websites of all respective facilities in order to cover a broad range of complementary procedures. METHODS: In 2020, an independent and comprehensive website screening of all 389 Bavarian acute hospitals, including all departments, was conducted by two independent raters. Complementary medicine procedures offered were analysed in total as well as separately by specialty. RESULTS: Among all 389 Bavarian acute care hospitals, 82% offered at least one and 66% at least three different complementary procedures on their website. Relaxation techniques (52%), acupuncture (44%), massage (41%), movement-, art-, and music therapy (33%, 30%, and 28%), meditative movement therapies like yoga (30%), and aromatherapy (29%) were offered most frequently. Separated by specialty, complementary procedures were most common in psychiatry/psychosomatics (relaxation techniques 69%, movement and art therapy 60% each) at 87%, and in gynaecology/obstetrics (most common acupuncture 64%, homeopathy 60%, and aromatherapy 41%) at 72%. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of Bavarian acute care hospitals also seem to conduct complementary medicine procedures in therapy, especially for psychological indications and in obstetrics and gynaecology, according to the hospital websites. How often these procedures are used in inpatient or outpatient settings as well as evidence on effectiveness of the applied procedures should be investigated in further studies.
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Aromaterapia , Terapias Complementares , Obstetrícia , Gravidez , Feminino , Humanos , Alemanha , Terapias Complementares/métodos , Obstetrícia/métodos , HospitaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Differences in sexual development (DSD) are rare diseases, which affect the chromosomal, anatomical or gonadal sex differentiation. Although patient education is recommended as essential in a holistic care approach, standardised programmes are still lacking. The present protocol describes the aims, study design and methods of the Empower-DSD project, which developed an age-adapted multidisciplinary education programme to improve the diagnosis-specific knowledge, skills and empowerment of patients and their parents. METHODS: The new patient education programme was developed for children, adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome or XX-/or XY-DSD and their parents. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods include standardised questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and participatory observation. The main outcomes (assessed three and six months after the end of the programme) are health-related quality of life, disease burden, coping, and diagnosis-specific knowledge. The qualitative evaluation examines individual expectations and perceptions of the programme. The results of the quantitative and qualitative evaluation will be triangulated. DISCUSSION: The study Empower-DSD was designed to reduce knowledge gaps regarding the feasibility, acceptance and effects of standardised patient education programmes for children and youth with DSD and their parents. A modular structured patient education programme with four generic and three diagnosis-specific modules based on the ModuS concept previously established for other chronic diseases was developed. The topics, learning objectives and recommended teaching methods are summarised in the structured curricula, one for each diagnosis and age group. At five study centres, 56 trainers were qualified for the implementation of the training programmes. A total of 336 subjects have been already enrolled in the study. The recruitment will go on until August 2022, the last follow-up survey is scheduled for February 2023. The results will help improve multidisciplinary and integrated care for children and youth with DSD and their families. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00023096 . Registered 8 October 2020 - Retrospectively registered.
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Educação de Pacientes como Assunto , Qualidade de Vida , Adolescente , Criança , Humanos , Pais , Desenvolvimento Sexual , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Primary hazelnut allergy is a common cause of anaphylaxis in children, as compared to birch-pollen associated hazelnut allergy. Population-based data on hazelnut and concomitant birch-pollen allergy in children are lacking. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of primary and pollen-associated hazelnut allergy and sensitization profiles in school-aged children in Berlin, Germany. METHODS: 1570 newborn children were recruited in Berlin in 2005-2009. The school-age follow-up (2014-2017) was based on a standardized web-based parental questionnaire and clinical evaluation by a physician including skin prick tests, allergen specific immunoglobulin E serum tests and placebo-controlled double-blind oral food challenges, if indicated. RESULTS: 1004 children (63.9% response) participated in the school-age follow-up assessment (52.1% male). For 1.9% (n = 19, 95%-confidence interval 1.1%-2.9%) of children their parents reported hazelnut-allergic symptoms, for half of these to roasted hazelnut indicating primary hazelnut allergy. Symptoms of birch-pollen allergy were reported for 11.6% (n = 116 95%-CI 9.7%-13.7%) of the children. Both birch-pollen allergy and hazelnut allergy associated symptoms affected 0.6% (n = 6, 95%-CI 0.2%-1.3%) of children. Assessment of allergic sensitization was performed in 261 participants and showed that almost 20% of these children were sensitized to hazelnut, being the most frequent of all assessed food allergens, or birch-pollen, the majority to both. CONCLUSIONS: Based on parental reports hazelnut-allergic symptoms were far less common than sensitization to hazelnut. This needs to be considered by physicians to avoid unnecessary changes in diet due to sensitization profiles only, especially when there is a co-sensitization to hazelnut and birch-pollen.
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Alérgenos/imunologia , Antígenos de Plantas/imunologia , Betula/imunologia , Corylus/imunologia , Hipersensibilidade a Noz/epidemiologia , Pólen/imunologia , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/epidemiologia , Criança , Feminino , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Hipersensibilidade a Noz/diagnóstico , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/diagnóstico , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
No abstract available.
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The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is continuously increasing. This chronic metabolic disorder is difficult to treat and imposes a considerable economic burden on the healthcare system. In view of the fact that type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by behavioral factors, effective preventive strategies are urgently needed. We examined the effects of a holistic lifestyle intervention on clinical and laboratory parameters as well as on the long-term diabetes risk in patients at risk to develop diabetes. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in a primary care setting in Hannover, Germany, with 83 patients diagnosed as (pre)diabetic or at risk for diabetes. CHIP Germany is a 40-hour coaching lifestyle intervention program for the primary and secondary prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The intervention included a comprehensive nutrition and health educational program based on the American CHIP approach. The primary outcome parameter was the body mass index (BMI). Secondary outcome parameters included body weight, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood lipids, and the FINDRISK score, which assesses long-term diabetes risk. At the final measurement after 12 months, in the intervention group the BMI was reduced by 1.4 versus 0.2 kg/m(2) in controls (p = .119). The mean sustained weight loss after 12 months was -4.1 kg in the intervention group versus -0.8 kg in controls. Furthermore, we found a trend toward a stronger reduction in blood pressure, fasting glucose, and HbA1c as well as an improved FINDRISK score in the intervention group, compared to controls. Although failing to reach statistical significance at the final assessment, this comprehensive lifestyle intervention showed a noticeable reduction in several cardiometabolic risk factors which may facilitate the prevention of diabetes.
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Doenças Cardiovasculares/prevenção & controle , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevenção & controle , Estilo de Vida , Exercício Físico , Feminino , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: An early IgE response to grass or birch pollen can anticipate seasonal allergic rhinitis to pollen later in life or remain clinically silent. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors early in life that allow discriminating pathogenic from non-pathogenic IgE responses and contribute to the development of seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen. METHODS: The German Multicentre Allergy Study examined a birth cohort born in 1990. A questionnaire was yearly administered and blood samples collected at age 1,2,3,5,6,7,10,13 yr. The definition of the primary outcome grass- and birch-pollen-related seasonal allergic rhinitis (SARg, SARb) was based on nasal symptoms in June/July and April, respectively. Serum IgE antibodies to Phleum pratense and Betula verrucosae extracts were monitored with immune-enzymatic singleplex assays. RESULTS: Of the 820 examined children, 177 and 148 developed SARg and SARb, respectively. Among healthy children aged 3 or more years, IgE to grass pollen was the strongest risk factor of SARg (OR 10.39, 95%CI 6.1-17.6, p < 0.001), while parental hay fever was the only risk factor in early childhood independently associated with future SARg (1 parent: OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.4-4.5, p < 0.001; 2 parents: OR 4.17, 95%CI 1.7-10.1) and SARb (1 parent OR: 5.21, 95%CI 2.20-12.4, p < 0.001; 2 parents: OR 8.02, 95%CI 2.0-32.9, p < 0.001). Parental hay fever was associated with an increase of the concentration of pollen-specific IgE in seropositive subjects, after the age of 6 and was also a hallmark of molecularly more complex specific IgE responses to grass or birch pollen at age 6 or older. CONCLUSIONS: Parental hay fever and specific IgE to grass and/or birch pollen are strong pre-clinical determinants and potentially good predictors of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
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Filho de Pais com Deficiência , Imunoglobulina E/imunologia , Pólen/imunologia , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/epidemiologia , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/imunologia , Adolescente , Alérgenos/imunologia , Antígenos de Plantas/imunologia , Betula/imunologia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Seguimentos , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Humanos , Imunoglobulina E/sangue , Masculino , Phleum/imunologia , Valor Preditivo dos TestesRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to systematically review studies on the prevalence and complications of traditional male circumcision (i.e. circumcision by a traditional provider with no formal medical training), whose coverage and safety are unclear. METHODS: we systematically searched databases and reports for studies on the prevalence and complications of traditional male circumcision in youth 10-24 years of age in eastern and southern Africa, and also determined the ages at which traditional circumcision is most frequently performed. FINDINGS: six studies reported the prevalence of traditional male circumcision, which had been practised in 25-90% of all circumcised male study participants. Most circumcisions were performed in boys 13-20 years of age. Only two of the six studies on complications reported overall complication rates (35% and 48%) following traditional male circumcision. The most common complications were infection, incomplete circumcision requiring re-circumcision and delayed wound healing. Infection was the most frequent cause of hospitalization. Mortality related to traditional male circumcision was 0.2%. CONCLUSION: published studies on traditional male circumcision in eastern and southern Africa are limited; thus, it is not possible to accurately assess the prevalence of complications following the procedure or the impact of different traditional practices on subsequent adverse events. Also, differences in research methods and the absence of a standard reporting format for complications make it difficult to compare studies. Research into traditional male circumcision procedures, practices and complication rates using standardized reporting formats is needed.
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Circuncisão Masculina/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , África Oriental/epidemiologia , África Austral/epidemiologia , Circuncisão Masculina/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Masculino , Medicinas Tradicionais Africanas , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/classificação , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of homoeopathy versus conventional treatment in routine care. DESIGN: Comparative cohort study. SETTING: Patients with selected chronic diagnoses were enrolled in medical practice. INTERVENTIONS: Conventional treatment or homeopathy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of symptoms assessed by patients and physicians (visual rating scale, 0-10) at baseline, 6 and 12 months and costs. RESULTS: The analyses of 493 patients (315 adults, 178 children) indicated greater improvement in patients' assessments after homoeopathic versus conventional treatment (adults: homeopathy from 5.7 to 3.2; conventional, 5.9-4.4; p=0.002; children from 5.1 to 2.6 and from 4.5 to 3.2). Physician assessments were also more favourable for children who had received homoeopathic treatment (4.6-2.0 and 3.9-2.7; p<0.001). Overall costs showed no significant differences between both treatment groups (adults, 2155 versus 2013, p=0.856; children, 1471 versus 786, p=0.137). CONCLUSION: Patients seeking homoeopathic treatment had a better outcome overall compared with patients on conventional treatment, whereas total costs in both groups were similar.