Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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Sex steroid hormones may explain known gender-related variations in asthma prevalence and clinical manifestation. We investigated the relationship between use of hormonal contraceptives and asthma in women, and assessed evidence of biological interaction between use of hormonal contraceptives and body mass index in this relationship. ⋯ Use of hormonal contraceptives may reduce asthma exacerbations and number of care episodes. Overweight and obese non-contraceptive-using women may be at increased risk of asthma. Prospective studies are now needed to confirm these findings. Both oestrogen and progesterone may stimulate smooth airway muscle function and inhibit the activities of TH2 responses. Future studies should investigate these underlying mechanisms.
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Multicenter Study
Are patients admitted to hospitals from care homes dehydrated? A retrospective analysis of hypernatraemia and in-hospital mortality.
To compare risks of hypernatraemia on admission to hospital in persons who were with those who were not identified as care home residents and evaluate the association of hypernatraemia with in-hospital mortality. ⋯ Patients admitted to hospital from care homes are commonly dehydrated on admission and, as a result, appear to experience significantly greater risks of in-hospital mortality.
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Multicenter Study
Ritual circumcision and risk of autism spectrum disorder in 0- to 9-year-old boys: national cohort study in Denmark.
Based on converging observations in animal, clinical and ecological studies, we hypothesised a possible impact of ritual circumcision on the subsequent risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young boys. ⋯ We confirmed our hypothesis that boys who undergo ritual circumcision may run a greater risk of developing ASD. This finding, and the unexpected observation of an increased risk of hyperactivity disorder among circumcised boys in non-Muslim families, need attention, particularly because data limitations most likely rendered our HR estimates conservative. Considering the widespread practice of non-therapeutic circumcision in infancy and childhood around the world, confirmatory studies should be given priority.