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The article discusses the prevalence of food allergies and accidental allergic reactions in children, highlighting the need for tailored strategies based on age and severity. A multicenter survey involving caregivers of children with food allergies explored factors contributing to accidental exposure, such as age, food allergens, and pre-hospital responses. Findings suggest the importance of enhanced awareness, parental supervision, and patient education to prevent severe reactions and improve pre-hospital medication management, especially in children aged 4-6 years. The study emphasizes the necessity of age-appropriate education and guidance for children with food allergies to mitigate risks of accidental exposure. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), including functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are characterized by chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinically, FD and IBS often resemble gastrointestinal dysmotility caused by autoimmune autonomic neuropathy. We examined the seropositive frequency of autoantibodies against ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (gnAChRs) in patients presenting with FGIDs. Objective: To elucidate the seropositivity of gnAChR antibodies and the clinical features of seropositive FD and IBS. Materials and Methods: We measured autoantibodies against the gnAChR α3 and β4subunits using luciferase immunoprecipitation systems. Serum samples from patients with any autonomic symptoms were obtained from hospitals in Japan between January 2012 and August 2018 (1787 serum samples of 1381 patients). We selected FD and IBS patients and compared the clinical characteristics and prevalence of autonomic symptoms between those with seropositive and seronegative IBS and FD. Results: Nine IBS and two FD cases (one comorbid case with IBS) were found. We found four patients (36.4%) in whom gnAChR antibodies were positive in these eleven patients. Sicca symptoms were observed in three of four cases (75%) of seropositive FGID compared with zero of seven cases (0%) of seronegative FGID. Conclusions: We found patients with gnAChR antibodies in FD and IBS patients. These data will be valuable for elucidating the pathophysiology of these FGIDs and developing new treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown an association between excessive smartphone use and health problems. Along with such mounting concerns, health risk information on excessive smartphone use has been presented through various media. Such information is usually aimed at making smartphone users understand the associated health risks, thereby preventing excessive use or reducing current use. However, according to self-affirmation theory, such information may pose a threat to heavy smartphone users because it implies that they are engaging in maladaptive behavior. Therefore, to defend themselves, they may not accept the information and may not be highly motivated to reduce their usage. According to self-affirmation theory, such maladaptive defensive responses can be reduced through the affirmation of important values. We examined whether self-affirmation prior to reading health risk information increased heavy users' motivation to reduce smartphone usage. Participants (142 undergraduate students aged 18–22 years) reported their mean daily smartphone use. They then completed a writing task that affirmed/did not affirm an important personal value. Next, they read an article on the health risks of smartphone overuse and reported their motivation to reduce smartphone use. As a result, when heavy users did not self-affirm, they were significantly less motivated to reduce use than light users. However, when heavy users self-affirmed, their motivation was significantly higher than when they did not self-affirm. This effect of self-affirmation was not shown in light users. These results suggest that health risk information combined with self-affirmation is effective in reducing smartphone usage by heavy users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LIM-kinase 1 (LIMK-1), a serine/threonine kinase containing LIM and PDZ domains, plays a role in Rac-mediated actin cytoskeletal reorganization. There is a potential connection between Rac, LIMK-1, cofilin and actin-filament dynamics. Rac prompts the kinase activity of LIMK-1, which in turn leads to phosphorylation and inactivation of cofilin. It probably also prompts a fall in the rate of actin depolymerization. LIMK-1 activity may be localized to confined regions within the cell by the binding of LIMK-1 to F-actin.