BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic multi-system inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, which shares many features of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). CARD15 has recently been identified as the first susceptibility gene in Crohn's disease (CD). OBJECTIVE: Given certain clinical and pathological similarities between CD and BD, and recent evidence of linkage of BD to the CARD15 genomic region, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of CARD15 variants in determining susceptibility to BD. METHODS: We studied 374 BD patients from three ethnically homogeneous cohorts (white English, Turkish, and Middle Eastern Arabs of Palestinian and Jordanian descent). Mutation detection of CARD15 was performed by direct sequencing in a subset of patients from each group and the identified variants were genotyped in the complete cohorts. Case-control analyses were carried out with additional stratification by the BD-associated allele, HLA-B*51. RESULTS: Mutation detection identified six previously described CARD15 polymorphisms at a frequency of > 3%. Additionally, two of the three CD-associated polymorphisms were present, but at low frequency. The frequency of haplotypes, constructed from nine genotyped polymorphisms, demonstrated significant variation between different ethnic groups. However, case-control analyses demonstrated no association between the CARD15 polymorphisms and susceptibility to BD, irrespective of HLA-B*51 status. CONCLUSION: CARD15 variant alleles are not associated with susceptibility to BD. Other shared loci, currently under investigation, may determine susceptibility to both CD and BD.

Arabs↗

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Correlates and retrospectively reported antecedents of alexithymia.

Two experiments were conducted in order to examine the relationship between alexithymia and: 1) family environment; 2) discomfort and ambivalence experiencing and expressing emotion; and 3) dissociation. Research participants in both experiments were college students. We examined the ability to identify and communicate emotion using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. In Experiment 1, we found that alexithymia was significantly correlated with ambivalence concerning expression of emotion (measured using the Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire) and with discomfort concerning negative emotional states (measured using a new instrument called the Emotional Experience Discomfort Scale). Higher levels of alexithymia were associated with retrospective reports of diminished family expressiveness (measured using the Expressiveness subscale of the Family Environment Scale) and with feeling less emotionally safe during childhood (measured using a new instrument called the Childhood Experiences Questionnaire). In Experiment 2, we found that alexithymia was significantly correlated with dissociative experiences (measured using the Dissociative Experiences Scale). However, alexithymia and dissociation differed in the way they were associated with retrospective reports of different aspects of family expressiveness (measured using the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire). High levels of dissociation were associated with increased negative dominant family communication. In contrast, high levels of alexithymia were associated with low levels of positive family communication.

Adolescent↗

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Using research in community nursing.

The concept of evidence-based medicine has received considerable attention, but the distinctive nature of evidence within community nursing has not been fully explored. This study examines the nature of evidence within community nursing and the factors influencing use of evidence. Although much of the literature has concentrated on individuals as sites of resistance to evidence-based change, the findings of this study suggest that organisational and cultural factors represent more significant obstacles.

Community Health Nursing↗

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HIV health crisis and African Americans: a cultural perspective.

While incidence of new HIV infections have decreased in the overall population, the numbers continue to rise in African-Americans creating a serious health emergency. Studies seem to imply that part of the rise is due to HIV beliefs and high risk behaviors among African Americans. Due to certain societal factors, African Americans appear to be at greater risk for contracting the virus. This article will examine these critical social factors and their impact on this current state of emergency in the African American community using Leininger's theory of Culture Care and Universality. Implications for health providers are also addressed.

Black or African American↗

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Sexuality. Biased care?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗