Early incidence of occupational asthma among young bakers, pastry-makers and hairdressers: design of a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational exposures are thought to be responsible for 10-15% of new-onset asthma cases in adults, with disparities across sectors. Because most of the data are derived from registries and cross-sectional studies, little is known about incidence of occupational asthma (OA) during the first years after inception of exposure. This paper describes the design of a study that focuses on this early asthma onset period among young workers in the bakery, pastry making and hairdressing sectors in order to assess early incidence of OA in these "at risk" occupations according to exposure duration, and to identify risk factors of OA incidence.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study population is composed of subjects who graduated between 2001 and 2006 in these sectors where they experience exposure to organic or inorganic allergenic or irritant compounds (with an objective of 150 subjects by year) and 250 young workers with no specific occupational exposure. A phone interview focusing on respiratory and 'Ear-Nose-Throat' (ENT) work-related symptoms screen subjects considered as "possibly OA cases". Subjects are invited to participate in a medical visit to complete clinical and lung function investigations, including fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE_NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements, and to collect blood samples for IgE (Immunoglobulin E) measurements (total IgE and IgE for work-related and common allergens). Markers of oxidative stress and genetic polymorphisms exploration are also assessed. A random sample of 200 "non-cases" (controls) is also visited, following a nested case-control design.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study may allow to describ a latent period between inception of exposure and the rise of the prevalence of asthma symptoms, an information that would be useful for the prevention of OA. Such a time frame would be suited for conducting screening campaigns of this emergent asthma at a stage when occupational hygiene measures and adapted therapeutic interventions might be effective.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinical trial registration number is NCT01096537.</p

Muller cell-specific autoantibodies in a patient with progressive loss of vision

PURPOSE. To study the specificity of circulating retinal autoantibodies in a patient with progressive loss of vision resembling cancer-associated retinopathy in the absence of systemic malignancy. METHODS. Patient's serum was tested for the presence of antiretinal antibodies by Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical analysis was performed on cryosections of rat retina and on cultured rat retinal Muller cells. RESULTS. Western blot analysis revealed that the serum contained a high titer of autoantibodies against a 35-kDa retinal antigen. A protein of similar molecular weight and antigenicity has been found to be present in protein extracts of bovine, rat, and fish retina. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that the autoantibodies did not localize to retinal neural cells, as reported for several other putative autoimmune retinal disorders, but rather to the retinal Muller cells. This cell type-specificity could be confirmed using purified cultured retinal Muller cells. CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that an autoimmune response directed against the retinal Muller cells, in the absence of overt systemic malignancy, may lead to a slow-developing visual deterioratio

Receiving corticosteroid therapy is associated with a poor outcome in patients with elderly-onset ulcerative colitis: a population-based study

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Natural history of Crohn's disease in elderly patients diagnosed over the age of 70 years: a population-based study

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Incidence and phenotype at diagnosis in very early-onset paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study (1988-2011)

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