Family Functioning and Suicidal Ideation/Behaviour in Adolescents: a Pilot Study

Objective: The main aim of this study was to explore the associations between specific aspects of family functioning and adolescent suicidal ideation/behaviour. Method: Participants were 87 high school students (43 male and 44 female) aged between 14 and 16 years of age. They completed a questionnaire measuring various aspects of family functioning and suicidal ideation/behaviour. The specific dimensions of family functioning assessed were: connection; psychological control and behavioural regulation in the parent-adolescent relationship; family conflict and family structure. Results: The results of t-test and chi-square analyses indicated that adolescents who reported suicidal ideation or behaviour in the previous year experienced lower levels of connection and regulation and higher levels of conflict and psychological control in the parent-child relationship than non-suicidal adolescents. Family structure and interparental conflict were not significantly associated with suicidal ideation/behaviour. Conclusions: The quality of relationships between adolescents and both of their parents may be important in distinguishing South African adolescents with recent suicidal ideation/behaviour from non-suicidal

Allergen immunotherapy.

Allergen immunotherapy has been used since the early 1900's for the treatment of allergic syndromes. The efficacy of immunotherapy for the treatment of anaphylaxis caused by the sting of the Hymenoptera class of insects, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and the allergic component of bronchial asthma has been clearly demonstrated in numerous well-designed, placebo-controlled trials. Many recent advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of the allergic response have permitted the development of innovative experimental approaches that very likely will improve the control of the allergic response in the future.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a comprehensive review.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a dynamic and heterogeneous group of diseases resulting from inhalational exposure to a variety of organic and inorganic dusts. In the United States, it has predominantly been considered an occupational disease, such as in farmer's lung, bagassosis, and in the plastics and paint industry with isocyanate exposure. In Japan, however, the most common exposure to antigen has been associated with the home environment. All susceptible patient populations are at potential risk to develop this disease under appropriate antigen exposure. The clinical course can be acute, subacute, or chronic depending on the nature of the antigen and the circumstances under which exposure occurs. If unrecognized, any stage of disease has the potential to progress to endstage pulmonary fibrosis. Proper antigen identification and avoidance requires that the physician be keenly aware of its existence and the importance of the detailed occupational and home environmental history. Without a high degree of suspicion, this disease can be easily overlooked and misdiagnosed as another type of inflammatory lung disease. Although the immunologic mechanisms mediating this illness are complex and poorly understood, strict avoidance of the provocative antigen is required for optimal long-term outcome.

Immunotherapy for food allergy.

Food allergy is an important cause of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Avoidance of allergenic foods is the only method of prevention that currently is available for sensitized patients. This method of prevention is difficult and often impossible. With better characterization of allergens and better understanding of the immunologic mechanism, investigators have developed several therapeutic modalities that potentially are applicable to the treatment and prevention of food allergy. Therapeutic options currently under investigation include peptide immunotherapy, DNA immunization, immunization with immunostimulatory sequences, anti-IgE therapy, and genetic modification of foods. These exciting developments hold promise for the safe and effective treatment and prevention of food allergy in the next several years.

Immune system alteration in the rat after indirect exposure to methyl mercury chloride or methyl mercury sulfide.

Methyl mercury is a well-recognized health hazard. It is an environmental contaminant that accumulates in the food chain. The primary source of mercury exposure for humans is through the consumption of contaminated fish. We studied the effects of indirect methyl mercury exposure on the immune system of Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of different forms of methyl mercury on immune system development were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Rats were indirectly exposed to mercury during gestation and during nursing by exposing pregnant rats to either 5 or 500 micrograms/liter of methyl mercury chloride (CH3HgCl) or 5 micrograms/liter of methyl mercury sulfide [(CH3Hg)2S] in their drinking water. Total body, splenic, and thymic weights were measured, and NK cell cytolytic activity and lymphoproliferative response to T and B cell mitogens were evaluated in the offspring. At 6 weeks of age, total body and splenic weights were significantly increased in both high- and low-dose methyl mercury chloride-exposed groups. Rats exposed to methyl mercury sulfide had a significant increase in thymic weight at 6 weeks of age. At 12 weeks, the total body and organ weights were not different from controls. The lymphocyte proliferative response of splenocytes to PWM was enhanced at 6 weeks in both CH3HgCl exposed groups and not affected in the (CH3Hg)2S exposed group. NK cell activity was not affected in either group at 6 weeks of age. At age 12 weeks, NK cell activity was statistically significantly decreased by 56.6% in both CH3HgCl-exposed groups and not affected in the (CH3Hg)2S-exposed rats. The lymphocyte proliferative response of splenocytes to the B cell mitogen pokeweed remained increased in the CH3HgCl groups. Indirect exposure of rats (during gestation and nursing) to different forms of methyl mercury reveals that chloride forms have prolonged predominantly enhancing effects on lymphoproliferative response of splenocytes, followed by significant depression of NK cell activity.