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ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular reactivity is a potential mechanism underlying associations of close relationship quality with cardiovascular disease. Two models describe oxytocin as another mechanism. The "calm and connect" model posits an association between positive relationship experiences and oxytocin levels and responses, whereas the "tend and befriend" model emphasizes the effects of negative relationship experiences in evoking oxytocin release. In this study of 180 younger couples, relationship quality had a small, marginally significant inverse association with plasma oxytocin levels, and neither positive nor negative couple interactions evoked change in plasma oxytocin. Negative couple interactions evoked significant cardiovascular reactivity, especially among women. Hence, in the largest study of these issues to date, there was little support for key tenets of the "calm and connect" model, and only very modest support for the "tend and befriend" model. However, findings were consistent with the view that CVR contributes to the effects of relationship difficulties on health.
International journal of psychophysiology: official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology 04/2012; · 3.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Social relationships are reliably related to rates of morbidity and mortality. One pathway by which social relationships may influence health is via the impact of relationship quality on cardiovascular reactivity during social interactions.
This study examined the effects of the quality of a friendship on cardiovascular reactivity when speaking about positive or negative life events with an ambivalent or supportive friend. To examine this, 107 healthy male and female adults (and their same-sex friend) were recruited.
Results revealed that participants exhibited the greatest levels of systolic blood pressure reactivity when discussing a negative event with an ambivalent friend compared to a supportive friend. We also found higher resting levels of heart rate and lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia among those who brought in ambivalent friends than those who brought in supportive friends.
Individuals may not be able to fully relax in the presence of ambivalent friends and may not benefit from support during stress. This research may help clarify the health-related consequences of differing types of social relationships.
Annals of Behavioral Medicine 07/2007; 33(3):278-90. · 4.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The mechanisms by which social relationships exert their influence on mental and physical health outcomes deserve greater attention.
Although many studies assess the influence of actual social interactions on cardiovascular reactivity, we hypothesized that cognitive and behavioral processes (e.g., recalling and discussing relationships) may be important factors responsible for the health effects of social relationships.
We had men and women recall and speak about specific relationships that differed in their underlying positive and negative substrates.
Results revealed that gender moderated the hypothesized pattern of responses, with women showing consistently greater cardiovascular reactivity to the speaking task, particularly when speaking about negative relationships, compared to men.
This study is discussed in light of recent research on gender differences in relationship outcomes as well as the potential importance of delineating the cognitive representations and processes that influence reactions to one's social environment.
Annals of Behavioral Medicine 09/2004; 28(1):29-38. · 4.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Ocular symptoms are often under-treated in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The efficacy of fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 mg capsules supplemented with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution was evaluated to determine the optimal drug regimen for control of ocular allergic symptoms.
In this 5-week, open-label, randomized, multicentre comparative study, 89 patients with documented ragweed pollen allergy received fexofenadine b.i.d. with nedocromil rescue, fexofenadine q.d. with nedocromil b.i.d., or fexofenadine rescue with nedocromil b.i.d. during the ragweed pollen season.
For all regimens, mean symptom severity scores for itching, burning, tearing, redness, grittiness, discharge, light sensitivity and swelling improved significantly (P < 0.003). Similarly, all groups experienced significant (P < 0.02) improvement in all clinical signs: erythema, oedema, discharge, conjunctival injection and conjunctivitis, as well as quality-of-life scores (P < 0.0001). All regimens reduced overall symptom severity scores after 5 min (P < 0.05) with relief persisting over 12 h (P < 0.03). Improvements in mean symptoms, signs and quality-of-life scores were similar among the treatment groups as were onset and duration of action even though patients in two of the three study arms were taking one-half or less of the recommended fexofenadine dosage. Patients and physicians judged the regimens containing lower fexofenadine dosages (with nedocromil b.i.d.) to be more effective overall than the regimen containing the highest fexo-fenadine dosage (with nedocromil as rescue only).
Supplementation of oral fexofenadine therapy with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution relieves ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allowing control of rhinal symptoms with half the recommended dosage of fexofenadine.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 07/2003; 31(3):206-12. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Purpose: Ocular symptoms are often under-treated in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The efficacy of fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 mg capsules supplemented with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution was evaluated to determine the optimal drug regimen for control of ocular allergic symptoms.Methods: In this 5-week, open-label, randomized, multicentre comparative study, 89 patients with documented ragweed pollen allergy received fexofenadine b.i.d. with nedocromil rescue, fexofenadine q.d. with nedocromil b.i.d., or fexofenadine rescue with nedocromil b.i.d. during the ragweed pollen season.Results: For all regimens, mean symptom severity scores for itching, burning, tearing, redness, grittiness, discharge, light sensitivity and swelling improved significantly (P < 0.003). Similarly, all groups experienced significant (P < 0.02) improvement in all clinical signs: erythema, oedema, discharge, conjunctival injection and conjunctivitis, as well as quality-of-life scores (P < 0.0001). All regimens reduced overall symptom severity scores after 5 min (P < 0.05) with relief persisting over 12 h (P < 0.03). Improvements in mean symptoms, signs and quality-of-life scores were similar among the treatment groups as were onset and duration of action even though patients in two of the three study arms were taking one-half or less of the recommended fexofenadine dosage. Patients and physicians judged the regimens containing lower fexofenadine dosages (with nedocromil b.i.d.) to be more effective overall than the regimen containing the highest fexofenadine dosage (with nedocromil as rescue only).Conclusions: Supplementation of oral fexofenadine therapy with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution relieves ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allowing control of rhinal symptoms with half the recommended dosage of fexofenadine.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 05/2003; 31(3):206 - 212. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of sea-sonal allergic conjunctivitis, 24 golfers with
documented ragweed-pollen allergy instilled eyedrops twice daily for 4 days prior to golf-course intervention and 15 minutes
before playing a round of golf during peak ragweed season. Ocular symptoms were scored at baseline (7 days before golfing),
prior to instillation on the day of golf, and 30 minutes, and 1, 4, 8, and 12 hours after tee-off. Physician assessment was
performed prior to tee-off, before tee-off on the ninth hole, and at the end of the 18th hole. Itching, burning, grittiness,
tearing, redness, and light sensitivity were significantly decreased after nedocromil administration, as were erythema, edema,
conjunctival hyperemia, and overall findings in the conjunctiva. Symptom severity scores fell approximately 30 minutes after
instillation, with improvements persisting 8 and 12 hours after treatment. Most patients (92%) rated the treatment moderately
or completely effective, and 83% were willing to continue its use. Physician assessments of effectiveness agreed with those
of the patients. In this open-label study, nedocromil sodium eyedrops relieved the ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
for up to 12 hours, well beyond a usual round of golf.
Advances in Therapy 08/2001; 18(5):195-204. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this 2-week, randomized, crossover study, ophthalmic solutions of nedocromil sodium 2% and olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1%
were compared for effectiveness and acceptability in 28 patients with perennial allergic conjunctivitis and previous olopatadine
experience. Patients received nedocromil twice daily or olopatadine twice daily for 1 week, then were crossed over to the
alternate medication for 1 week. Outcome measures were patient satisfaction (questionnaire), severity of ocular symptoms (daily
diary scores), clinical signs (physician assessments), quality of life (questionnaire), and global assessments of effectiveness.
Both medications were well accepted. Of the 28 patients, 16 (57.1%) would request a nedocromil prescription, 10 (35.7%) an
olopatadine prescription (P =.157); 22 patients (78.6%) would recommend nedocromil to other allergy sufferers, while 18 (64.3%) would recommend olopatadine
(P =.480). Light sensitivity scores were significantly lower with nedocromil (P =.0125); other symptom scores were comparable between medications. Both drugs significantly (P< .01) and comparably decreased erythema, conjunctival injection, and overall conjunctival signs from baseline. Comparable
improvement also occurred in quality-of-life scores. Both physicians and patients judged nedocromil and olopatadine to be
similarly effective in preventing signs and symptoms. Nedocromil sodium 2% is an effective treatment for perennial allergic
conjunctivitis. Patients receiving olopatadine can be switched to nedocromil with no loss in efficacy or satisfaction, but
with a reduction in cost.
Advances in Therapy 04/2000; 17(3):140-147. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this 8-week open-label, prospective study, 30 patients with grass pollen allergy and ocular itching instilled nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution twice daily for a 5-day baseline period, followed by once-daily dosing thereafter. Physicians assessed clinical signs after the twice-daily period and after weeks 1 and 3 of the once-daily period; patients rated ocular symptoms daily. Use of specified rescue medication was permitted. Symptom scores for ocular itching, stinging, redness, swelling, burning, tearing, and light sensitivity did not differ significantly between the dosage periods. Scores for erythema, edema, conjunctival injection, and the entire conjunctiva decreased slightly during once-daily administration; discharge scores were unchanged. Of the 20 patients who used rescue medication, only 5 increased their usage by more than two doses per week during the once-daily period. Eighty-three percent of patients were willing to continue the once-daily regimen during the next allergy season. Physicians rated overall control of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis with once-daily administration as "good" or "moderate" in 100% of the patients; 93% of patients applied those ratings themselves. Nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution instilled once daily maintains control of symptoms in patients who are established on a twice-daily regimen.
Advances in Therapy 19(1):9-16. · 2.11 Impact Factor
