Use of HRQOL questionnaires to facilitate patient-physician communication

Assessment of the allergic potential of food protein extracts and proteins on oral application using the Brown Norway rat model

The need for widely accepted and validated animal models to test the potential allergenicity and potency of novel (biotechnology-derived) proteins has become an important issue for their safety evaluation.In this article, we summarize the results of the development of an oral sensitization protocol for food proteins in the rat. Young Brown...

Neurological symptoms among Sri Lankan farmers occupationally exposed to acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides

Background: In many agricultural districts in Sri Lanka, pesticide poisoning is a leading cause of death. This study aims to evaluate the impact of pesticide use on Sri Lankan farmers' health. Methods: A total of 260 subjects were surveyed in both a low and a high exposure period. Acetylcholinesterase activity was measured and data on symptoms...

Generic and disease-specific health related quality of life in non-cirrhotic, cirrhotic and transplanted liver patients: A cross-sectional study

Background: Studies on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of chronic liver patients were performed in clinical populations. These studies included various disease stages but small variations in aetiology and no transplanted patients. We performed a large HRQoL study in non-cirrhotic, cirrhotic and transplanted liver patients with sufficient...

Signalering van beginnende Alzheimer-dementie in de huisartspraktijk: Ontwikkeling en validering van de observatie lijst voor vroege symptomen van dementie (OLD) [Observation of early symptoms of Alzheimer dementia in general practice: Development and validation of the observation list for early signs of dementia (OLD)]

Aim of the study was the development and validation of a short observation list of possible early signs of dementia (OLD) for use in general practice. A stepwise development was carried out using reviews of publications and expert consensus. Experimental observations were carried out by 22 general practitioners in 19 Dutch practices. A field...

Food intolerance (food hypersensitivity) and chronic complaints in children: The parents' perception

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of food intolerance (FI) in Dutch 5- and 6-year-old children and its association with chronic ailments with a survey among parents by questionnaire. Based on parents' perception the prevalence of 'probable' FI was 3.8%. FI was associated with asthma, wheezing, eczema, hay fever, chronic rhinitis,...