scholarly journals Immunization of Cats against Fel d 1 Results in Reduced Allergic Symptoms of Owners

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Thoms ◽  
Stefanie Haas ◽  
Aline Erhart ◽  
Claudia S. Nett ◽  
Silvia Rüfenacht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Score ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Provocation Test ◽  
Specific Symptom ◽  
Allergic Symptoms ◽  
Cat Allergy ◽  
Fel D 1 ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Organ Specific

An innovative approach was tested to treat cat allergy in humans by vaccinating cats with Fel-CuMV (HypoCatTM), a vaccine against the major cat allergen Fel d 1 based on virus-like particles derived from cucumber mosaic virus (CuMV-VLPs). Upon vaccination, cats develop neutralizing antibodies against the allergen Fel d 1, which reduces the level of reactive allergen, thus lowering the symptoms or even preventing allergic reactions in humans. The combined methodological field study included ten cat-allergic participants who lived together with their cats (n = 13), that were immunized with Fel-CuMV. The aim was to determine methods for measuring a change in allergic symptoms. A home-based provocation test (petting time and organ specific symptom score (OSSS)) and a general weekly (or monthly) symptom score (G(W)SS) were used to assess changes in allergic symptoms. The petting time until a pre-defined level of allergic symptoms was reached increased already early after vaccination of the cats and was apparent over the course of the study. In addition, the OSSS after provocation and G(W)SS recorded a persistent reduction in symptoms over the study period and could serve for long-term assessment. Hence, the immunization of cats with HypoCatTM (Fel-CuMV) may have a positive impact on the cat allergy of the owner, and changes could be assessed by the provocation test as well as G(W)SS.

scholarly journals Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD: A qualitative study reporting the patient perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroub Lahham ◽  
Christine F McDonald ◽  
Ajay Mahal ◽  
Annemarie L Lee ◽  
Catherine J Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Supervised Exercise ◽  
Home Based

This study aimed to document the perspective of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who underwent home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HBPR) in a clinical trial. In this qualitative study, open-ended questions explored participants’ views regarding HBPR. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Major themes from interviews included the positive impact of HBPR on physical fitness, breathing and mood. Participants valued the flexibility and convenience of the programme. Participants also highlighted the importance of social support received, both from the physiotherapist over the phone and from family and friends who encouraged their participation. Reported challenges were difficulties in initiating exercise, lack of variety in training and physical incapability. While most participants supported the home setting, one participant would have preferred receiving supervised exercise training at the hospital. Participants also reported that HBPR had helped establish an exercise routine and improved their disease management. This study suggests that people with COPD valued the convenience of HBPR, experienced positive impacts on physical fitness and symptoms and felt supported by their community and programme staff. This highly structured HBPR model may be acceptable to some people with COPD as an alternative to centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation.

Home treatment services for acute mental disorders: an all-Ireland survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. O’Keeffe ◽  
V. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Home Based

ObjectivesTo determine the distribution, functioning and perceived impact of home-based treatment (HBT) teams for acute mental disorders on the island of Ireland.MethodsA 28-item questionnaire exploring the structure, staffing and operation of HBT teams was emailed to all clinical directors of mental health services in Ireland (n=26) and Northern Ireland (NI) (n=5). Quantitative data was analysed using the Survey Monkey package, while free-text responses to open questions were analysed for thematic content.ResultsIn total, 11 of 16 (68%) mental health services in Ireland and four of five (80%) in NI confirmed the presence of HBT teams. For 80% of respondents the primary function of HBT was as an alternative to inpatient admission. All NI respondents reported provision of a 24/7 HBT service. A 7 day a week service was reported by 82% of Republic of Ireland respondents. In total, 70% of respondents reported a gate-keeping role for their teams. Staffing levels and multidisciplinary representation varied widely. Most respondents perceived HBT as improving patient/carer experience and cost-effectiveness.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the implementation of the HBT model in Ireland has not fulfilled the aspirations set out in mental health policy in both Irish jurisdictions. Many areas have no HBT services while wide variations in staffing levels and functioning persist. However, mental health services with established HBT teams appear convinced of their positive impact. An All-Ireland forum on HBT may help to define the model in an Irish context and standardise its future resourcing, operation and evaluation.

scholarly journals Azelastine and Budesonide (Nasal Sprays): Effect of Combination Therapy Monitored by Acoustic Rhinometry and Clinical Symptom Score in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. ar.2014.5.0089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Zanellato Fabbri ◽  
Eduardo Abib ◽  
Ricardo de Lima Zollner
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Symptom Score ◽  
Provocation Test ◽  
Subjective Symptom ◽  
Acoustic Rhinometry ◽  
Nasal Patency ◽  
Histamine Concentration ◽  
Treatment Comparison ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits

The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the effects of intranasal therapy with azelastine (AZE), budesonide (BUD), and combined AZE plus BUD (AZE/BUD) using a nasal provocation test (NPT) and acoustic rhinometry in patients with allergic rhinitis. A randomized, single-blind, crossover study with three treatment sequences was used. Thirty patients with persistent AR received the three treatments using a nasal spray twice daily for 30 days and were evaluated by an NPT with histamine before and after each period of treatment. The treatment comparison, assessed by the nasal responsiveness to histamine, was monitored based on subjective (symptom score) and objective parameters (acoustic rhinometry). The minimal cross-area 2 (MCA2) was measured by acoustic rhinometry at 1, 4, 8, and 12 minutes after NPT for each histamine concentration administered (0.5,1, 2, 4, and 6 mg/mL) up to at least a 20% reduction in the MCA2 from baseline (NPT20). The subjects were scored regarding nasal response encompassing histamine dose and time after histamine administration that caused nasal obstruction (NPT20 score) to assess the treatments' effects. Combination therapy produced a significant increase in baseline MCA2, viz., the improvement of nasal patency (p = 0.005). The symptoms score was significantly decreased after treatment with AZE (p = 0.03), BUD (p < 0.0001), and AZE/BUD (p < 0.0001), compared with pretreatment. The NPT20 score was significantly higher (p = 0.0009) after AZE/BUD, compared with AZE and BUD on their own. Thus, AZE therapy combined with BUD might provide more therapeutic benefits than the isolated drugs for improving nasal patency.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Blast Cells Stimulate the Autocrine Production of CCL2 and IL-8 in Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 2429-2429
Author(s):  
Jaira Ferreira de Vasconcellos ◽  
Nilson Ivo Tonin Zanchin ◽  
Angelo A. Cardoso ◽  
Silvia Regina Brandalise ◽  
José Andrés Yunes
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Pediatric All

Abstract The interactions of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) blasts with bone marrow (BM) stromal cells have a positive impact on leukemia cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. ALL stimulates BM stromal cells, which reciprocally promotes leukemia cell survival. To identify molecules critically involved in leukemia–microenvironment crosstalk, we performed gene expression profiling analyses of primary BM endothelial cells (BMEC) and BM mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) following stimulation by primary ALL cells. Leukemia stimulation of BM stromal cells upregulates the expression of several inflammatory chemokines, including CCL2 and IL-8/CXCL8. Secretion of these molecules was confirmed by ELISA assays of in vitro co-culture experiments and in BM plasma samples from pediatric ALL patients. Most primary ALL samples were found to express mRNA for CCR2 and CXCR1/CXCR2, which are the cognate receptors for CCL2 and IL-8, respectively. Primary ALL cells expressing at least one myeloid marker (CD13, CD15 or CD33) exhibited increased mRNA expression of CCR2 (p = 0.02). Leukemia cells from most patients express CCL2 and IL-8 chemokines (ELISA test) but at lower levels than that of BMEC and BMMSC. In vitro functional studies revealed that the proliferation, survival and migration of primary ALL cells co-cultured with BM stromal cells were not affected by addition of CCL2, IL-8 or of neutralizing antibodies to these chemokines. On the other hand, both chemokines were found to enhance BMEC and BMMSC survival in serum-free medium and to increase their proliferation in serum-starved conditions. Interestingly, CCL2 and IL-8 affected endothelial morphogenesis as shown in Matrigel assays. Since CCL2 and IL-8 have suppressive effects in normal hematopoiesis but do not seem to affect primary ALL cells, it is possible that these chemokines may contribute to the establishment of survival/proliferative selective advantage for ALL cells in the leukemic BM microenvironment. In addition, CCL2 and IL-8 seems indirectly to contribute to ALL cell survival by stimulating the supporting BM stromal cells. Finally, preliminary results showed that standard risk pediatric ALL patients with BM plasma levels below 577pg/ml have better survival rates than those with higher CCL2 levels (p = 0.08). In conclusion, this work suggests a significant role for the chemokines CCL2 and IL-8 in the leukemia/microenvironment crosstalk in human ALL, and suggests that these molecules may represent valuable targets for therapeutic intervention in this cancer. Supported by: CNPq, FAPESP.

scholarly journals Immunotherapy – 2080. Fel d 1 derived peptide antigen desensitization results in a persistent treatment effect on symptoms of cat allergy 1 year after 4 doses

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. P162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roderick Peter Hafner ◽  
Peter Couroux ◽  
Annemarie Salapatek ◽  
Pascal Hickey ◽  
Paul Laidler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Peptide Antigen ◽  
Cat Allergy ◽  
Fel D 1

scholarly journals Impact of Home Care Services on Patient and Economic Outcomes: A Targeted Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 108482232110383
Author(s):  
Irene Lizano-Díez ◽  
Sonia Amaral-Rohter ◽  
Lucía Pérez-Carbonell ◽  
Susana Aceituno
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Adherence To Medication ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Home Based Care

Patient Support Programs (PSPs) reinforce patients’ care provided by health care professionals with the aim to improve adherence and patient empowerment. PSPs may include interventions such as home-based care, individualized medication counseling, support, training, and home delivery of medicines and/or devices. This study described these services and its impact on patient-reported outcomes and health care savings. We conducted an integrative literature review which was limited to publications from the last 10 years (2009-2019) and focused on diseases that require special support and/or parenteral administration. From 7040 total citations, we identified 64 home-based care services performed worldwide. Among the home-based care services, most were provided by nurses (n = 47/64; 73.4%) and addressed to cancer patients (n = 22/64; 34.4%); 23 out of 64 services (35.9%) incorporated telepharmacy. In general, home-based services and PSPs showed a positive impact on patients’ adherence to medication, patient satisfaction, and health-related quality of life. In addition, 14 (21.9%) services reported economic results, most of which showed that home therapy led to substantial cost savings.

scholarly journals How the sharing physical activity experience on social network sites(SNS) improves residents’ social connectedness during isolation: the multiple mediating effects of positive self-presentation and positive feedback

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Zuo ◽  
Mu Zhang ◽  
Yudan Ma ◽  
Xiaoyuan Wu ◽  
Zhanbing Ren
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract BackgroundIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical activity cannot continue to play a role in promoting interpersonal relationships and enhancing social connectedness，people’s contact with the outside world has turned to SNS. During isolation, Whether sharing physical activity experience on SNS can enhance individual social connectedness and its mechanism. The objective of the present study was to examine the associations between sharing physical activity experience on SNS, positive self-presentation, positive feedback ang social connectedness during isolation.MethodsBased on the physical activity experience sharing scale, social connectedness scale, positive self-presentation scale and online positive feedback scale, 460 valid questionnaires were collected online from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. A series of multiple linear regression models were established to study the relationship between variables, and the bootstrap confidence interval was selected to test the mediating effect.ResultsDuring isolation, sharing physical activity experience is positively associated with social connectedness (b =0.308, p < 0.001), it is also positively associated with positive self-presentation(b =0.956, p < 0.001)and positive feedback(b =0.421, p < 0.001). In addition, it is verified that positive self-presentation has a significant positive impact positive feedback (b = 0.563, p <0.001). positive self-presentation(b =0.331, P < 0.001) and positive feedback(b =0.311, P < 0.001) are positively associated with social connectedness. Finally, it was verified that sharing physical activity experience indirectly through positive self-presentation (b=0.316, 95% CI: [0.180, 0.463]) and positive feedback (b= 0.131, 95% CI: [0.063, 0.207]) also had a significant impact on social connectedness, respectively. and indirectly through the mediation chain of online positive self-presentation and positive feedback (b=0.167, 95% CI: [0.088, 0.251]) also has a significant impact on social connectedness.ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing physical activity experience on SNS can create a positive, healthy and energetic personal image, gain recognition from others, and establish new interpersonal relationships. At the same time, in addition to advocating home-based exercises, governments should encourage residents to share content of home-based exercise or virtual sports on SNS.

A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
E. Wool ◽  
J.L. Shotwell ◽  
J. Slaboda ◽  
A. Kozikowski ◽  
K.L. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
New York ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Impact

Background: Home-based primary care (HBPC) provides team-based clinical care for homebound patients who have difficulty accessing typical outpatient care. Interdisciplinary team members also provide social and emotional support and serve as a resource for family caregivers, who often experience significant emotional stress. Objectives: This qualitative study explores the impact of HBPC on family caregivers to identify aspects of the program that caregivers find most helpful and meaningful as well as areas for improvement. Design: Semi structured recorded interviews were conducted with family caregivers of frail, elderly homebound patients. Interviews included the following topics: overall program satisfaction and suggestions for improvement. Setting: A HBPC program serving patients in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York. Participants: Nineteen family caregivers: 13 women, 6 men; 10 were adult children; 6 were spouses, and 3 were other family members of patients in a HBPC program. Measurements: Thematic coding of all recorded transcribed interviews was prepared by 3 qualitative coders. Interrater reliability was conducted to ensure reliability across coders before themes were disseminated and discussed until consensus was achieved with the larger group of investigators. Results: Three main themes were identified: the importance of staff emotional support; the burden of caring for homebound patients; and the need for a broader range of home-based services. Multiple family members noted that the program not only had saved their loved one’s life, but had also metaphorically saved their own. Conclusions: Family caregivers value the communication and accessibility of HBPC and report that the program has a positive impact on their stress and mental health. Results can inform key aspects that need to be retained or enhanced with the expansion in HBPC programs.

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