Realtors’ Perceptions of Social and Physical Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Active Living: A Canadian Perspective

Realtors match home-seekers with neighborhoods that have built and social characteristics they desire to pursue active lifestyles. Studies have yet to explore realtors’ perspectives on neighborhood design that supports active living. Using qualitative description, our study was to explore the perceptions and understandings of neighborhood design (walkability, healthy, bike-ability, vibrancy, and livability) among urban residential realtors. Nineteen (6 men; 13 women; average age 48 years) self-identified residential realtors from Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge (Canada) completed semi-structured telephone interviews. Content analysis identified themes from the interview data. Specifically, walkability was described as: perceived preferences, destinations and amenities, and connections; a healthy community was described as: encourages outdoor activities, and promotes social homogeneity; bike-ability was described as: bike-ability attributes, and was controversial; vibrancy was described as: community feel, and evidence of life; and livability was described as: subjective, and preferences and necessities. Our findings can inform the refinement of universal definitions and concepts used to in neighborhood urban design.

Food Hypersensitivity as a Cause of Atopic Dermatitis

Thirty children from infancy to 12 years suffering from atopic dermatitis were evaluated for food hypersensitivity by means of history, skin prick test, total eosinophils count, and elimination of suspected food. Sixteen (53%) patients had history of allergy to suspected food, the other 16 (53%) had ether allergic diseases. Of the 30 patients, 15 (50%) had one of the parents with allergic diseases, and in 3 patients both parents suffered from a1Iergic diseases. Nineteen (6:3-1.) children had atopic dermatitis triggered by food; egg accounted for 400/o, fish for 53-lo and shrimp for 40% for the allergic manifestations. Skin prick test consisted of 20 food allergens was done to all children above 2 years of age, 12 (40%) of the pa1ients showed positive results. This study demonstrated that food hypersensitivity may play a pathogenic role in some children with atopic dermatitis. Appropriate diagnosis and restriction of diet can improve their skin symptoms.

Colonization and risk factors for Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in humans and dogs on tea estates in Assam, India

The prevalence of colonization with the anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli was investigated in humans (n=316) and dogs (n=101) living on three tea estates in Assam, India. Colonization was detected using PCR on DNA from faeces. Nineteen (6%) human faecal samples contained B. aalborgi DNA, 80 (25·3%) contained B. pilosicoli DNA, and 10 (3·2%) contained DNA from both species. One canine sample contained DNA from B. pilosicoli. Significant factors for B. aalborgi colonization in logistic regression were: infection of family members with B. aalborgi (P<0·001), being a resident of Balipara (P=0·03), and use of water treatment (P=0·03). For B. pilosicoli, significant factors were: other family members being positive for B. pilosicoli (P<0·001), water obtained from a well (P=0·006), water treatment (P=0·03), and not having visited a doctor in the previous 12 months (P=0·03).