Modelling studies suggest that urban cycling is associated with an increased inhaled dose of fossil fuel-derived black carbon (BC). Using the amount of black material in airway macrophages as a marker of long-term inhaled BC, we sought to compare inhaled BC dose in London (UK) cyclists and non-cyclists.Airway macrophage carbon was assessed in 28 (58%) out of 48 healthy adults (14 cyclists and 14 non-cyclists) who attended for induced sputum. Short-term (24 h) exposure to BC was assessed on a representative working day in 27 out of 28 subjects. Serum interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a were assessed in 26 out of the 28 subjects.Cyclists were found to have increased airway macrophage carbon when compared with noncyclists (mean¡SE 1.81¡0.21 versus 1.11¡0.07 mm 2 ; p,0.01). Short-term monitoring showed no difference in 24 h BC exposure between the two groups. However, cyclists were exposed to higher concentrations of BC during commuting (p,0.01). Airway macrophage carbon was associated with monitored commute BC (n528; r50.47, p,0.05). TNF-a was found to be increased in cyclists (p,0.05), but no other cytokines were increased. Commuting to work by bicycle in London is associated with increased long-term inhaled dose of BC. Whether cycling per se increases inhaled BC dose remains unclear.

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Research was carried out to determine whether or not there was a difference in the health beliefs, expectations and behaviour of a sample of 92 patients attending a dermatological or rheumatological outpatient clinic which offered either homœopathic treatment (N=47) or conventional treatment (N=45).Self-administered questionnaires were used which examined patients' pathways to care, expectations, beliefs, behaviour and multidimensional health locus of control.The two key differences between those seeking homœopathic and those seeking conventional medicine were in terms of (1) their reasons for attending a homœopathic or conventional clinic, and (2) their beliefs about their presenting dermatological or rheumatological condition.

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