Robert Siebers

• PGCertPH FNZIMLS FNZIC FRSB HonFNZSP
• Professor (Associate) at University of Otago

Background Various observational studies have suggested that infants and young children who regularly sleep in synthetic bedding materials are more likely to experience wheezing and asthma, while children who use feather duvets and/or feather pillows are less likely to wheeze. Methods In Wellington, New Zealand, we conducted a three‐armed, paralle...

ABSTRACT House dust mites produce allergens which cause asthma symptoms in susceptible individuals. The Wellington Asthma Research Group has conducted many studies on house dust mites and its allergens since 1994. We have previously published a review of those published studies from 1994 to 2006. This review article updates subsequent house dust mi...

Objectives: Gender imbalances have been shown in articles in medical journals. No such information exists for medical laboratory sciencejournals. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all peer-reviewed articles of the New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science from 1995 to 2019. Gender of all named authors was recorded as well as for first or s...

Document recommendation systems for locating relevant literature have mostly relied on methods developed a decade ago. This is largely due to the lack of a large offline gold-standard benchmark of relevant documents that cover a variety of research fields such that newly developed literature search techniques can be compared, improved and translate...

Document recommendation systems for locating relevant literature have mostly relied on methods developed a decade ago. This is largely due to the lack of a large offline gold-standard benchmark of relevant documents that cover a variety of research fields such that newly developed literature search techniques can be compared, improved and translate...

Background: The University of Otago provides summer studentships to undergraduate students to undertake a short-term research project in the medical and biomedical sciences. Objectives: To determine whether these studentships resulted in peer-reviewed publications. Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS and the University of Otago Publications databases were sear...

Aim: Indoor allergens exposure is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in sensitised children. There is limited data on indoor allergen exposures in New Zealand schools. Methods: Vacuumed floor dust samples were collected from 136 classrooms in 12 primary schools and analysed for allergens from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinu...

Indoor allergens exposure is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in sensitised children. There is limited data on indoor allergen exposures in New Zealand schools. METHODS: Vacuumed floor dust samples were collected from 136 classrooms in 12 primary schools and analysed for allergens from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p...

Environmental exposure to endotoxin, Fel d I (cat) allergen and Der p I (house dust mite) allergen have been associated with asthma symptoms and have been measured in the environment using various sampling methods, including the electrostatic dust collector. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether levels of endotoxin and allergens...

Betel (areca) nuts are extensively chewed in many countries. This has been associated with respiratory symptoms. We aimed to determine whether betel nut chewing is associated with acute changes in fractional exhaled nitric oxide, a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation. Betel nut chewing resulted in an immediate significant decline in fraction...

Allergy to inhalant and food allergens affects many patients worldwide [...]

A recent article in this journal presented the knowledge and attitude towards caring for HIV/AIDS patients in Nigeria. The authors, in their discussion section, state that the majority of their respondents had a good knowledge of HIV/AIDS in contrast to the results of a South African study of nurses. In support of that statement the authors cite th...

Background and objective: Anti-pyretic treatment is recommended in the management of influenza infection. In animal models anti-pyretic treatment increases mortality from influenza. We investigated the effects of paracetamol on viral and clinical outcomes in adults with influenza infection. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-co...

Appendix S1 Methods. Figure S1 The maximum daily temperature during the initial five day period in the 80 individual participants randomized to placebo (blue) and paracetamol (red). Table S1 Mean (SD) and temperature (degrees Celsius) of study participants in Days 1–5 by placebo and paracetamol. Table S2 Area under the curve (degrees Celsius) of...

Acetaminophen is often used on a regular, daily basis for the treatment of chronic pain; however, the safety of regular acetaminophen is still debated. This study determined whether 12 weeks of treatment with acetaminophen at half the maximum recommended daily dose causes an increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) in healthy adults participating in...

β-(1,3)-glucan exposure from household dust has been shown to be associated with respiratory symptoms and thus is increasingly being measured in epidemiological studies. Various factors are known to influence its measurement; however, no studies have assessed the effects of sample extract freeze-thawing on β-(1,3)-glucan. The aim of this study was...

To investigate the effect of regular paracetamol on bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and asthma control in adult asthma. Single research-based outpatient clinic. 94 adults with mild-to-moderate asthma received randomised treatment; 85 completed the study. Key inclusion criteria were age 18-65 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) >70% p...

Objective: Children's soft toys are known to harbour house dust mite (HDM) allergens, but little is known whether they harbour cat or dog allergens. The objective of the study was to measure cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and HDM allergens on children's soft toys. Methods: Dust was collected from 40 children's soft toys and their mattresses. Data...

The role of probiotics in prevention of allergic disease is still not clear; efficacy may depend on the timing, dose, duration, and specific probiotic used. Using a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12607000518460), we have shown that in a high-risk birth cohort, maternal supplem...

Many studies report that damp housing conditions are associated with respiratory symptoms. Less is known about mechanisms and possible effect modifiers. Studies of dampness in relation to allergic sensitization and eczema are scarce. We study the influence of damp housing conditions world-wide on symptoms and objective outcomes. Cross-sectional stu...

Environmental levels of β-(1,3)-glucan, an inflammatory fungal cell wall component, have been suggested to be related to respiratory symptoms. However there is currently little data comparing β-(1,3)-glucan detection methods and/or results obtained in different laboratories. The aim of this study was to compare levels of β-(1,3)-glucans detected in...

House dust mites produce potent allergens that exacerbate asthma in sensitized patients, whom are recommended to practice allergen avoidance within their home environment. We tested the effect of activated charcoal impregnated fibers on house dust mite survival. One hundred live adult house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were added to...

We determined the incidence of percutaneous (needlestick and sharps) injuries among emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in one county in Taiwan, compared this with the official reporting rate, and sought reasons for non-reporting. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all EMTs in that county, eliciting percutaneous injuries occurrences, re...

Atopic patients are advised to cover their mattresses with occlusive coverings; however, these are not cheap. We investigated whether daily vacuum cleaning of mattresses significantly reduces content of house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin, and fungal β-glucan. Twenty volunteers vacuumed their mattress daily for 8 weeks. Dust samples coll...

Background House dust mite allergic patients are advised to cover their mattresses with occlusive coverings; however, these are not cheap. We investigated whether daily vacuum cleaning of mattresses reduces house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin and fungal β-glucan content. Methods Twenty volunteers vacuumed their mattress daily for 8 week...

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood has shown a wide range in the prevalence of rhinitis in adolescents worldwide, ranging from 1.0 to 45%. A significant proportion of rhinitis is allergic in nature, particular to inhalant allergens. In poorly controlled patients, allergic rhinitis significantly affects quality of life. Ove...

House dust mites produce potent allergens that exacerbate asthma in sensitized patients, whom are recommended to practice allergen avoidance within their home environment. We tested the effect of activated charcoal impregnated fibers on house dust mite survival. One hundred live adult house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were added to...

Background Many studies report that damp housing conditions are associated with respiratory symptoms. Less is known about mechanisms and possible effect modifiers. Studies of dampness in relation to allergic sensitization and eczema are scarce. Objective We study the influence of damp housing conditions world-wide on symptoms and objective outcomes...

Background: Citations in scientifi c articles are references to published articles or works to acknowledge their relevance and relationship to research. The purpose of this study was to determine which articles published in the New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science have been cited during the last ten years, and by which journals. Method...

Exhaled nitric oxide has been promoted as a non-invasive measure of airway inflammation, with clinical utility for the diagnosis and management of asthma. We studied associations between exhaled nitric oxide, asthma and atopy in a variety of clinically relevant phenotypes in a cohort of 6-yr-old children. Asthma was defined using standard questionn...

The New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science (NZIMLS) is the organisation that represents those engaged in the profession of Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand. Its role is to promote professional excellence through communication, education and a code of ethics to achieve the best laboratory service for the benefit of the patient....

Authorship of peer-reviewed publications can create conflict among academics. To document authorship conflicts of academics at a tertiary faculty. An anonymous questionnaire eliciting authorship conflicts and knowledge of authorship criteria was administered online to 154 academic staff members at a New Zealand university. 43 academics responded, a...

Various cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have suggested that synthetic bedding is associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema while feather bedding seems to be protective. Synthetic bedding items have higher house dust mite allergen levels than feather bedding items. This is possibly the mechanism involved although fungal and bacte...

To cite this article: Chang C-F, Wu FF-S, Chen C-Y, Crane J, Siebers R. Effect of freezing, hot tumble drying and washing with eucalyptus oil on house dust mites in soft toys. Pediatric Allergy Immunology 2011; 22: 638–641. Soft toys are a major source of house dust mites (HDM) and HDM allergens, and sleeping with soft toys is a significant risk fa...

Bedding dust is a mixture of many components, of which the house dust mite (HDM) allergen, Der p 1, is the most allergenic. There has been little work to investigate the effect of other bedding dust components on HDM sensitisation. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of endotoxin in bedding dust on the allergic response in HDM-se...

Stored grains and seeds have been known to be prone to contamination by mites for well over 100 years [1], but it was not until 1993 that the fi rst documented case of anaphylaxis to mite-contaminated fl our was reported [2]. To our knowledge, no studies on mite contamination of fl our samples have been reported from New Zealand, although storage m...

Exposure to bacterial endotoxin and fungal β-(1,3)-glucan in the indoor environment can induce respiratory symptoms. Automobiles are an exposure source of allergens but it is not known if, and how much exposure there is to endotoxin and fungal β-(1,3)-glucan. The objective of the study was to determine whether automobiles are a potential source of...

Background Macrocytosis is a common fi nding in the hospital and community setting, generally attributed to alcoholism, vitamin B-12 and folate defi ciencies and certain medications. Only few studies have reported macrocytosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of increased mea...

Case studies are educational for the reader. They bring together laboratory results with the patient's clinical diagnosis. Case studies include description of an unusual disorder or aetiology, support for or disconfirmation of a clinical hypothesis, new insight into disease pathogenesis, unusual case presentation, and description of adverse drug or...

Indoor allergens and microbial bio-contaminants play a significant role in asthma symptoms. The aim of the study was to determine levels of house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin, and fungal beta-glucan in homes of 120 asthmatic children in central Taiwan. Dust samples from 120 mattresses (67 double-sided) were analyzed for house dust mite...

The present study generated preliminary data on the acceptability and pharmacokinetics of nicotine administered by a simple metered-dose inhaler (MDI). We conducted a nonrandomized, open-label cross-over trial of 10 current smokers. On Day 1, a single cigarette was smoked ad libitum. On Day 2, participants took 10 puffs (20 inhalations) of 50 micro...

Beta-(1,3)-glucan is a pro-inflammatory component of the fungal cell wall, indoor levels of which have only been considered in a few studies. This study assessed levels of beta-(1,3)-glucan in 35 domestic bedrooms. beta-(1,3)-glucan levels were estimated using a modified Limulus amoebocyte lysate kinetic assay. beta-(1,3)-glucan geometric mean leve...

Complimentary and alternative medicines are widely used but are not registered medicines. The aim of the study was to compare advice given by health food stores and pharmacists for hypertension. Twenty-six health food stores and 26 pharmacies were visited by an individual for advise on a hypothetical problem of hypertension. Staff in 25 out of 26 h...

Several studies have consistently reported inverse associations between exposure to endotoxin in house dust and atopy. With regard to the association between house dust endotoxin and asthma, the results are inconsistent. To study the association between house dust endotoxin levels and respiratory symptoms and atopy in populations from largely diffe...

House dust mites produce inhalant allergens of importance to allergic patients. We measured the major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina, respectively in 100 randomly selected domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming from th...

This study explored the effects of maternal probiotic supplementation on immune markers in cord blood (CB) and breast milk. CB plasma and breast milk samples were collected from a cohort of women who had received daily supplements of either 6 x 10(9) CFU/day Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (n=34), 9 x 10(9) CFU/day Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (n=35)...

Exposure to cat allergen (Fel d 1) has been associated with immune responses and exacerbation of asthma. As such allergen can accumulate in carpet, we sought to determine the influence of carpet pile conformation (loop vs. cut) and degree of wear on the levels of Fel d 1 present before and after different cleaning processes. Tufted wool carpets of...

Beta-(1,3)-glucan is pro-inflammatory and has been associated with airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms. This study assessed beta-(1,3)-glucan levels from upper body clothing (jerseys) of 55 subjects. Beta-(1,3)-glucan levels were estimated with a modified Limulusamoebocyte lysate kinetic assay. Beta-(1,3)-glucan levels ranged widely from 2...

House dust mite sensitized asthmatics are advised to practice allergen avoidance. Charcoal pillows are used in Korea with unsubstantiated claims regarding their efficacy in alleviating asthma symptoms. We tested the effects of activated charcoal on breeding of house dust mites in culture. Twenty live adult house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pterony...

Pillows are a known source of house dust mite (HDM) allergens and covering pillows with allergen-impermeable covers is known to reduce exposure to HDM allergens (1). House dust mite sensitized patients are often advised to cover all bedding items with allergen-impermeable covers and, although some studies have shown beneficial effects, other studie...

A large majority of children in New Zealand attend daycare centres and kindergartens early in life. Overseas studies have demonstrated a possible protective effect of daycare attendance against asthma and allergy later in life. One hypothesised agent for this protection is high levels of endotoxin, which have not previously been measured in New Zea...

Wheezing in infancy is common and is associated with small lungs, viral respiratory tract infection, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Recently, increased levels of endotoxin in the domestic environment have also been associated with infant wheezing, particularly among infants with a family history of atopic disease. To explore associations...

The objective was to learn about members' opinions on the performance of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science and the services it provides. A 30-question questionnaire was distributed to members through the Journal. Members were asked to rate, on a scale of 0 to 10, the services that the Institute provides, and to rate on the Ins...

Allergens produced by house dust mites are known to induce sensitisation in susceptible subjects and in turn sensitisation is associated with the development of allergic asthma. Furthermore, exposure to house dust mite allergens is an established risk factor for exacerbation of allergic asthma. In this paper we review published studies from the Wel...

Mouse allergen has emerged as an under recognized indoor allergen associated with sensitization and contributing to asthma severity. As part of a study of farm residence, exposures, and risk of allergic diseases in children in New Zealand, 216 living room floor dust samples were analysed for the mouse allergen, Mus m 1. Associations between Mus m 1...

Bacterial endotoxin, fungal (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucans, and extracellular polysaccharides from Aspergillus and Penicillium (EPS-Asp/Pen) have been suggested to be stable markers of microbial exposure. This paper describes a pilot study in which we measured endotoxin, (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucans, EPS-Asp/Pen and mite allergen in house dust collected in 3...

Background: Wheezing in infancy is common and is associated with small lungs, viral respiratory tract infection, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Recently, increased levels of endotoxin in the domestic environment have also been associated with infant wheezing, particularly among infants with a family history of atopic disease. Objective:...

Previous studies have shown that children in Tokelau have a lower prevalence of asthma and atopy compared to Tokelauan children resident in New Zealand. We hypothesized that the low asthma and atopy prevalence in Tokelau may be associated with low indoor allergen levels. Dust was collected from bedding and floors of 76 homes and four public buildin...

Attitudes, Concerns, and Knowledge of Taiwanese Medical Laboratory Technologists and Students Regarding HIV and AIDS - Volume 20 Issue S1 - F.F.S. Wu, R. Siebers, J.H. Liu, C.Y. Horng, Y.P. Huang, J.Y. Lin, J.Y. Tsay, M. J. Gu, M.H. Huang, C.W. Juan

Recent evidence has suggested that high exposure to cat allergens is associated with decreased prevalence of sensitization to cat and, in some studies, decreased asthma. Our objective was to study antibodies to cat and mite allergens and their relationship to wheezing in a country with high exposure to both allergens. Sera from 112 wheezing and 112...