Johns Hopkins Researchers at Neuroscience 2008 - People with restless leg syndrome often have found that sleep-inducing allergy drugs worsen their symptoms. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered a possible reason for that and help explain why RLS in general interferes with sleep but doesn't seem to result in daytime drowsiness. The common thread, the researchers say, is that histamine receptors - proteins found on the surface of some cells that are triggered by histamine - in the brain work to modulate nerve responses.
When activated, histamine receptors stimulate alertness or wakefulness.
To sort out the relationship they suspected, the researchers first gave RLS patients either a true sedative or diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in many allergy medications that tames histamine and induces sleepiness. They found that while sedatives had little to no effect on RLS, diphenhydramine made the RLS as much as three to four times worse. The team then looked at autopsied brains from RLS patients for possible differences in histamine receptor location and found that the substantia nigra, the part of the brain implicated in RLS, contained a higher number of histamine-3 receptor proteins, suggesting that this molecular pathway is more active in people with RLS.
"Five out of six patients in our study showed this elevated number of histamine receptor proteins," says Richard Allen, Ph.D., a research associate in neurology at Hopkins.
"The histamine system appears to alter the balance of the nervous system so that one is not sleepy in the daytime, even with sleep loss, which might explain why RLS patients can get by on so little sleep. This also suggests that histamine receptors might be a new target for study and therapy of RLS."
Jan 26, 2009
Food Allergy And Intolerance
One of the busiest weeks at the start of the year is about to hit Allergy UK. Since Christmas and the New Year, the volume of calls from people suffering with symptoms which could be related to food have been steadily climbing.
The majority of people contacting us will be suffering food sensitivity, a true food allergy affects only a small number of the population, in the region of 2% but for this 2% it is unbelievably difficult particularly as a mistake could be life threatening.
With the food allergy and intolerance awareness week people who have been silently suffering wondering what could be causing their problems will often decide to telephone and just check out what they could possibly do to identify the cause of their symptoms and what to do about it.
Thousands of people suffer from food related illnesses and symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Coeliac Disease, Migraine, Eczema , joint pains etc. yet are unaware of how they should manage their conditions and this is where Allergy UK can help.
Whether suffering from food allergy or food intolerance life is severely impacted making social events a nightmare, reducing productivity at work and limiting achievements in education. However there is good news in that due to the increased awareness of the problems, that in the region of 45% of the population suffer, increased attention is being paid to producing special 'free from' food which is a million miles away from the tasteless food of a few years ago.
In a recent survey carried out by Allergy UK many people mentioned specific supermarkets and the 'free from' foods they produce and we want to know more, so we are currently carrying out an online vote on both the above websites, on the shopping habits of those with food allergy and intolerance problems. We suspect from comments made to us, that shoppers will completely change their regular store if they discover a particular supermarket has a range of 'free from' foods that suit them.
We want to know whether this is really the case, whether ease of finding the product, price etc. are major factors. We want to hear from people with food problems about the services they want and expect to be provided by the supermarkets. Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Awareness week with your help will enable us to do this.
The majority of people contacting us will be suffering food sensitivity, a true food allergy affects only a small number of the population, in the region of 2% but for this 2% it is unbelievably difficult particularly as a mistake could be life threatening.
With the food allergy and intolerance awareness week people who have been silently suffering wondering what could be causing their problems will often decide to telephone and just check out what they could possibly do to identify the cause of their symptoms and what to do about it.
Thousands of people suffer from food related illnesses and symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Coeliac Disease, Migraine, Eczema , joint pains etc. yet are unaware of how they should manage their conditions and this is where Allergy UK can help.
Whether suffering from food allergy or food intolerance life is severely impacted making social events a nightmare, reducing productivity at work and limiting achievements in education. However there is good news in that due to the increased awareness of the problems, that in the region of 45% of the population suffer, increased attention is being paid to producing special 'free from' food which is a million miles away from the tasteless food of a few years ago.
In a recent survey carried out by Allergy UK many people mentioned specific supermarkets and the 'free from' foods they produce and we want to know more, so we are currently carrying out an online vote on both the above websites, on the shopping habits of those with food allergy and intolerance problems. We suspect from comments made to us, that shoppers will completely change their regular store if they discover a particular supermarket has a range of 'free from' foods that suit them.
We want to know whether this is really the case, whether ease of finding the product, price etc. are major factors. We want to hear from people with food problems about the services they want and expect to be provided by the supermarkets. Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Awareness week with your help will enable us to do this.
Living With Nut Allergy
The incidence of nut allergy is on the increase in Western societies, as is the attention it receives from the public and from the media, yet little research has been carried out on the impact of living with the condition.
A University of Leicester research project is now to look at the views and experiences of children and their families living with nut allergy, which accounts for the majority of severe food-related allergic reactions. Peanut allergy, which currently affects around 1 % of children, is the most common food trigger of anaphylaxis.
Funded by MAARA (Midlands Asthma and Allergy Research Association), Dr Emma Pitchforth, of the University's Department of Health Sciences, is carrying out a qualitative study involving interviews with children and their parents. Depending on the age of the child, they may be interviewed separately or with their parents.
The two-year research project is being carried out with colleagues Dr David Luyt and Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz, consultant paediatricians involved in the management of childhood allergies.
From these investigations, the team hope to understand better the impact on family and everyday life of living with these allergies. They will be looking at sources of information and strategies families use to cope.
The interviews will be audio-recorded (with permission) and the resulting transcriptions will help the researchers to identify recurring themes. All data is anonymous and confidential.
Dr Pitchforth commented: "First allergic reactions to nuts usually develop in children at a young age and do not resolve as they get older. This means that for those affected nut allergy is a permanent, potentially life-threatening condition.
"Clinical management of nut allergy typically involves educating children and their families to avoid all products containing nuts. They need to learn to recognise early signs of allergic reaction and to administer self-injectable epinephrine when they need to.
"The number of deaths resulting from nut allergy is extremely low, but it is a risk and patients are told to avoid all types of nuts and their traces, and to carry an 'Epi-pen' at all times, in case they suffer an anaphylactic shock."
University Of Leicester
A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.
- Ranked top for student satisfaction in England (jointly with Oxford) among mainstream universities (average score of 4.4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction)
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times University Guide, The Guardian University Guide and the UK Good University Guide
- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-07.
- Ranked in top 200 world universities by the THES (Times Higher Education Supplement)
- Short listed University of the Year in 2007 by The Sunday Times and Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006
- Ranked top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian
- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006 and 2007
Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Center.
90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £184m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme among the biggest of any UK university.
A University of Leicester research project is now to look at the views and experiences of children and their families living with nut allergy, which accounts for the majority of severe food-related allergic reactions. Peanut allergy, which currently affects around 1 % of children, is the most common food trigger of anaphylaxis.
Funded by MAARA (Midlands Asthma and Allergy Research Association), Dr Emma Pitchforth, of the University's Department of Health Sciences, is carrying out a qualitative study involving interviews with children and their parents. Depending on the age of the child, they may be interviewed separately or with their parents.
The two-year research project is being carried out with colleagues Dr David Luyt and Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz, consultant paediatricians involved in the management of childhood allergies.
From these investigations, the team hope to understand better the impact on family and everyday life of living with these allergies. They will be looking at sources of information and strategies families use to cope.
The interviews will be audio-recorded (with permission) and the resulting transcriptions will help the researchers to identify recurring themes. All data is anonymous and confidential.
Dr Pitchforth commented: "First allergic reactions to nuts usually develop in children at a young age and do not resolve as they get older. This means that for those affected nut allergy is a permanent, potentially life-threatening condition.
"Clinical management of nut allergy typically involves educating children and their families to avoid all products containing nuts. They need to learn to recognise early signs of allergic reaction and to administer self-injectable epinephrine when they need to.
"The number of deaths resulting from nut allergy is extremely low, but it is a risk and patients are told to avoid all types of nuts and their traces, and to carry an 'Epi-pen' at all times, in case they suffer an anaphylactic shock."
University Of Leicester
A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.
- Ranked top for student satisfaction in England (jointly with Oxford) among mainstream universities (average score of 4.4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction)
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times University Guide, The Guardian University Guide and the UK Good University Guide
- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-07.
- Ranked in top 200 world universities by the THES (Times Higher Education Supplement)
- Short listed University of the Year in 2007 by The Sunday Times and Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006
- Ranked top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian
- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006 and 2007
Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Center.
90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £184m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme among the biggest of any UK university.
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