Because epidemiological studies have yielded different results, the association between exposure to fine particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM
2.5) and acute events of ...cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is unknown. Additionally, no research has been conducted to explore the association between PM
2.5 and hospital emergency room (ER) visits of cardiovascular diseases in Beijing, China.
To explore the association between PM
2.5 and the hospital ER visits in Beijing, China for CVD {(International Classification of Diseases, 10th vision (ICD-10): I00~I99)}.
We collected data for daily hospital ER visits for CVD from the Peking University Third Hospital, daily ambient PM
2.5 data from a fixed monitor site at Peking University, and data on the daily level of gaseous air pollutants {sulfur dioxide (SO
2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO
2)} from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center between June 1, 2004 and December 31, 2006. A time-stratified case–crossover design was used to evaluate associations between CVD health outcomes and ambient air pollutants.
8377 hospital ER visits of CVD were collected in our study. After adjusting the temperature and the relative humidity, the associations for 10 μg/m
3 increases in levels of PM
2.5, SO
2, or NO
2 and hospital ER visits for cardiovascular diseases were statistically significant with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.005{95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001–1.009}, 1.014(95% CI: 1.004–1.024), and 1.016(95% CI: 1.003–1.029), respectively.
These findings suggest that elevated levels of ambient air pollutants are associated with the increase in hospital ER visits for CVD in Beijing, China.
Diesel motor emission is a complex mixture of hundreds of constituents in either gas or particle form. Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is composed of a center core of elemental carbon and adsorbed ...organic compounds including PAHs and nitro-PAHs, and small amounts of sulfate, nitrate, metals, and other trace elements. DPM consists of fine particles including a high number of ultrafine particles. These particles are highly respirable and have a large surface area where organics can adsorb easily. Exposure to DPM can cause acute irritation and neurophysiological, respiratory, and asthma-like symptoms and can exacerbate allergenic responses to known allergens. Consistently, lung cancer risk is elevated among workers in occupations where diesel engines have been used. However, quantification of the cancer risk with respect to DPM concentrations is not possible. Furthermore, ambient fine and ultrafine particles, of which DPM is an important component, contribute to cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality and lung cancer. In conclusion, diesel exhaust poses a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant, as well as causing other short- and long-term health problems. One effective way to effectively reduce emission of DPM is the use of particle traps.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many risk loci for asthma, but effect sizes are small, and in most cases, the biological mechanisms are unclear. Targeted metabolite ...quantification that provides information about a whole range of pathways of intermediary metabolism can help to identify biomarkers and investigate disease mechanisms. Combining genetic and metabolic information can aid in characterizing genetic association signals with high resolution. This work aimed to investigate the interrelation of current asthma, candidate asthma risk alleles and a panel of metabolites.
Methods
We investigated 151 metabolites, quantified by targeted mass spectrometry, in fasting serum of asthmatic and nonasthmatic individuals from the population‐based KORA F4 study (N = 2925). In addition, we analysed effects of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 24 asthma risk loci on these metabolites.
Results
Increased levels of various phosphatidylcholines and decreased levels of various lyso‐phosphatidylcholines were associated with asthma. Likewise, asthma risk alleles from the PDED3 and MED24 genes at the asthma susceptibility locus 17q21 were associated with increased concentrations of various phosphatidylcholines with consistent effect directions.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrated the potential of metabolomics to infer asthma‐related biomarkers by the identification of potentially deregulated phospholipids that associate with asthma and asthma risk alleles.
Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of contact sensitization in the general population and to investigate associations with important sociodemographic and medical characteristics. ...Methods: Within a population-based nested, case-control study in Germany, we performed patch tests with 25 standard allergens in 1141 adults (50.4% female, age median 50 years). Additional information was obtained by a dermatologic examination, a standardized interview, and blood analysis. Results: At least one positive reaction was exhibited by 40.0% of the subjects, with reactions most frequently observed to fragrance mix (15.9%), nickel (13.1%), thimerosal (4.7%), and balsam of Peru (3.8%). Women were sensitized more often than men (50.2% vs 29.9%, OR 2.36, CI 1.84-3.03), and this was also significant for fragrance mix, nickel, turpentine, cobalt chloride, and thimerosal. Contact sensitization was more frequent in subjects who reported adverse skin reactions (53.8% vs. 32.6%; OR 2.41, CI 1.85-3.14), and this was particularly true for sensitization to nickel (45.5% vs 8.8%, OR 8.64, CI 5.67-13.17) and fragrance mix (29.0% vs 14.0%, OR 2.51, CI 1.60-3.91) and the corresponding intolerance of fashion jewelry and fragrances. Contact sensitization decreased with increasing degree of occupational training (unskilled 45.9%, apprenticeship 40.1%, technical college 40.4%, and school of engineering 12.5%; P=0.023; trend test P=0.042). Significant associations of contact sensitization and presence of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, atopic eczema, or psoriasis were not observed. Frequency estimates for the general adult population based on these findings were 28.0% for overall contact sensitization and 11.4% for fragrance mix, 9.9% for nickel, and 3.2% for thimerosal. Conclusions: It is concluded that contact allergy is influenced by sociodemographic parameters and plays an important role in the general population.
To cite this article: Schmitt J, Chen C-M, Apfelbacher C, Romanos M, Lehmann I, Herbarth O, Schaaf B, Kraemer U, von Berg A, Wichmann H-E, Heinrich J, the LISA-plus Study Group. Infant eczema, infant ...sleeping problems, and mental health at 10 years of age: the prospective birth cohort study LISAplus. Allergy 2011; 66: 404-411. ABSTRACT: Background: Cross-sectional studies suggest an association between eczema and mental health problems, possibly modified by sleeping problems, but prospective evidence is missing. We aimed to prospectively investigate the relationship between infant eczema (within first 2 years of age), infant sleeping problems (within first 2 years of age), and the risk of mental health problems at 10 years of age. Methods: Between 1997 and 1999, a population-based birth cohort was recruited in Munich, Leipzig, Wesel, and Bad Honnef, Germany, and followed until 10 years of age. Physician-diagnosed eczema, parent-reported sleeping problems, and known environmental risk factors for atopy were regularly assessed until 10 years of age. Mental health was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent version) at 10 years of age. We applied logistic regression modeling adjusting for environmental and lifestyle factors, allergic comorbidity, and family history of eczema. Results: From the original cohort of 3097 neonates, 1658 (54%) were followed until age 10, while 1578 (51%) were eligible for analysis. In the fully adjusted model, children with infant eczema were at increased risk of hyperactivity/inattention at 10 years of age odds ratio (OR) 1.78; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02-3.09. Infant eczema with concurrent sleeping problems predicted emotional problems OR 2.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.20-5.76 and conduct problems (OR 3.03; 95% CI 1.01-9.12) at 10 years of age. Conclusions: Infant eczema with concurrent sleeping problems appears to be a risk factor for the development of mental health problems.
Epidemiological studies on health effects of outdoor air pollution are largely based on a single monitoring site to estimate the exposure of people living in urban areas. For such an approach two ...aspects are important: the temporal correlation and the spatial variation of the absolute levels of concentrations measured at different sites in an urban area. Whereas many studies have shown small spatial variability of fine particles in urban areas, little is known on how well a single monitoring station could represent the temporal and spatial variation of ultrafine particles across urban areas.
In our study we investigated the temporal and spatial variation of particle number concentration (PNC) at four background sites in Augsburg, Germany. Two of them were influenced by traffic, one was placed in the outskirts of the city.
The average PNC levels at two urban background sites with traffic impact were 16,943 cm
−
3
and 20,702 cm
−
3
, respectively, compared to 11,656 cm
−
3
at the urban background site without traffic impact (ratio 1.5 to 1.8). The Spearman correlation coefficients between the monitoring sites were high (
r
>
0.80).
The pronounced differences in absolute PNC levels suggest that the use of a single monitoring station in long-term epidemiological studies must be insufficient to attribute accurate exposure levels of PNC to all study subjects. On the other hand, the high temporal correlations of PNC across the city area of Augsburg implicate that in epidemiological time-series studies the use of one single ambient monitoring site is an adequate approach for characterizing exposure to ultrafine particles.
Diabet. Med. 27, 1116–1123 (2010)
Background The aim was to derive Type 2 diabetes prediction models for the older population and to check to what degree addition of 2‐h glucose measurements (oral ...glucose tolerance test) and biomarkers improves the predictive power of risk scores which are based on non‐biochemical as well as conventional clinical parameters.
Methods Oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out in a population‐based sample of 1353 subjects, aged 55–74 years (62% response) in Augsburg (Southern Germany) from 1999 to 2001. The cohort was reinvestigated in 2006–2008. Of those individuals without diabetes at baseline, 887 (74%) participated in the follow‐up. Ninety‐three (10.5%) validated diabetes cases occurred during the follow‐up. In logistic regression analyses for model 1, variables were selected from personal characteristics and additional variables were selected from routinely measurable blood parameters (model 2) and from 2‐h glucose, adiponectin, insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) (model 3).
Results Age, sex, BMI, parental diabetes, smoking and hypertension were selected for model 1. Model 2 additionally included fasting glucose, HbA1c and uric acid. The same variables plus 2‐h glucose were selected for model 3. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve significantly increased from 0.763 (model 1) to 0.844 (model 2) and 0.886 (model 3) (P < 0.01). Biomarkers such as adiponectin and insulin did not improve the predictive abilities of models 2 and 3. Cross‐validation and bootstrap‐corrected model performance indicated high internal validity.
Conclusions This longitudinal study in an older population provides models to predict the future risk of Type 2 diabetes. The OGTT, but not biomarkers, improved discrimination of incident diabetes.
Summary
Background
Nutritional intervention with hydrolysed infant formulas has been shown efficacious in preventing eczema in children predisposed to allergy. However, this preventive effect has ...never been related to the natural course of eczema in children with or without a family history of allergy. The aim of this study therefore was to compare the course of eczema in predisposed children after nutritional intervention to the natural course of eczema.
Method
The prospective German birth cohort study GINIplus includes a total of 5991 children, subdivided into interventional and non‐interventional groups. Children with a familial predisposition for allergy whose parents agreed to participate in the prospective, double‐blind intervention trial (N=2252) were randomly assigned at birth to one of four formulas: partially or extensively hydrolysed whey, extensively hydrolysed casein (eHF‐C) or standard cow's milk formula. Children with or without familial predisposition represented the non‐interventional group (N=3739). Follow‐up data were taken from yearly self‐administered questionnaires from 1 up to 6 years. The outcome was physician‐diagnosed eczema and its symptoms. The cumulative incidence of eczema in predisposed children with or without nutritional intervention was compared with that of non‐predisposed children who did not receive intervention. Cox regression was used to adjust for confounding.
Results
Predisposed children without nutritional intervention had a 2.1 times higher risk for eczema 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–2.7 than children without a familial predisposition. The risk was smaller with nutritional intervention even levelling out to 1.3 (95% CI 0.9–1.9) in children fed eHF‐C formula.
Conclusion
Although direct comparability is somewhat restricted, the data demonstrate that early intervention with hydrolysed infant formulas can substantially compensate up until the age of 6 years for an enhanced risk of childhood eczema due to familial predisposition to allergy.
Cite this as: A. v. Berg, U. Krämer, E. Link, C. Bollrath, J. Heinrich, I. Brockow, S. Koletzko, A. Grübl, B. Filipiak‐Pittroff, H.‐E. Wichmann, C.‐P. Bauer, D. Reinhardt, D. Berdel and the GINIplus study group, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 627–636.
Objectives: To estimate long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollutants on an individual basis and to assess adverse health effects using a combination of air pollution measurement data, data ...from geographical information systems (GIS) and questionnaire data. Methods: 40 measurement sites in the city of Munich, Germany were selected at which to collect particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and to measure PM2.5 absorbance and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). A pool of GIS variables (information about street length, household and population density and land use) was collected for the Munich metropolitan area and was used in multiple linear regression models to predict traffic-related air pollutants. These models were also applied to the birth addresses of two birth cohorts (German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI) and Influence of Life-style factors on the development of the Immune System and Allergies in East and West Germany (LISA)) in the Munich metropolitan area. Associations between air pollution concentrations at birth address and 1-year and 2-year incidences of respiratory symptoms were analysed. Results: The following means for the estimated exposures to PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and NO2 were obtained: 12.8 μg/m3, 1.7×10−5 m−1 and 35.3 μg/m3, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for wheezing, cough without infection, dry cough at night, bronchial asthma, bronchitis and respiratory infections indicated positive associations with traffic-related air pollutants. After controlling for individual confounders, significant associations were found between the pollutant PM2.5 and sneezing, runny/stuffed nose during the first year of life (OR 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.34) Similar effects were observed for the second year of life. These findings are similar to those from our previous analysis that were restricted to a subcohort in Munich city. The extended study also showed significant effects for sneezing, running/stuffed nose. Additionally, significant associations were found between NO2 and dry cough at night (or bronchitis) during the first year of life. The variable “living close to major roads” (<50 m), which was not analysed for the previous inner city cohort with birth addresses in the city of Munich, turned out to increase the risk of wheezing and asthmatic/spastic/obstructive bronchitis. Conclusions: Effects on asthma and hay fever are subject to confirmation at older ages, when these outcomes can be more validly assessed.
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