General characteristics of the study population at baseline and follow-up.

<p>Differences between baseline and follow-up are tested for statistical differences: paired t-test for continuous variables, McNemar’s paired chi squared test for binary outcomes. The number of persons included in each analysis depends on the source of the outcome data: questionnaire (n = 234), lung function (n = 161), or serological data (n = 212).</p

Changes in reported health symptoms and IgE positivity between baseline and follow-up.

<p>Participants are categorized as never (absent at baseline and follow-up), new onset (negative at baseline and positive at follow up), loss (positive at baseline and negative at follow up) and persistent (positive both at baseline and follow up) health symptoms.</p

General characteristics of the study population at baseline and follow-up.

<p>Differences between baseline and follow-up are tested for statistical differences: paired t-test for continuous variables, McNemar’s paired chi squared test for binary outcomes. The number of persons included in each analysis depends on the source of the outcome data: questionnaire (n = 234), lung function (n = 161), or serological data (n = 212).</p

Odds of loss, new onset and persistence of allergic outcomes during follow-up in association with endotoxin exposure.

<p>Analyses are adjusted for potential confounders (age, gender, smoking and farm childhood). A consistent protective pattern is observed for hay fever, grass IgE sensitization and atopy, although not all associations meet statistical significance.</p

Inflammation in atopic and nonatopic asthmatics.

<p>Inflammation in atopic and nonatopic asthmatics.</p

Positive correlation between the number of IL-17⁺ cells and neutrophils in the submucosa of bronchial biopsies from atopic (r_s = 0.44; p<0.001) and nonatopic (r_s = 0.45, p = 0.009) asthmatics (A), or from asthmatics who are inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (r_s = 0.35; p = 0.01) and non-ICS (r_s = 0.48; p<0.0001) users (B).

<p>Positive correlation between the number of IL-17⁺ cells and neutrophils in the submucosa of bronchial biopsies from atopic (r_s = 0.44; p<0.001) and nonatopic (r_s = 0.45, p = 0.009) asthmatics (A), or from asthmatics who are inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (r_s = 0.35; p = 0.01) and non-ICS (r_s = 0.48; p<0.0001) users (B).</p

Negative correlation between the number of IL-17⁺ cells in the submucosa of bronchial biopsies and serum specific IgE (Phadiatop) from asthmatics (rs = -0.37; P<0.001).

<p>Negative correlation between the number of IL-17⁺ cells in the submucosa of bronchial biopsies and serum specific IgE (Phadiatop) from asthmatics (rs = -0.37; P<0.001).</p

IL-17 expression in the submucosa of bronchial biopsies of 4 groups of studied population.

<p>atopic inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) user (frame A), nonatopic ICS user (frame B), atopic non-ICS user (frame C), nonatopic non-ICS user (frame D). Single staining for IL-17 (frame E; blue) and MPO (frame F; red) and double staining for IL-17 and MPO (frame G; purple) in adjacent sections of a nonatopic non-ICS user asthmatic patient. Single staining for IL-17 (frame H; blue) and EPX (frame I; red) and double staining for IL-17 and EPX (frame J; purple) in adjacent sections of an atopic non-ICS user asthmatic patient.</p

Number of IL-17⁺ cells in submucosa in bronchial biopsies from atopic and nonatopic asthmatics who are inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) users or non-ICS users.

<p>Number of IL-17⁺ cells in submucosa in bronchial biopsies from atopic and nonatopic asthmatics who are inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) users or non-ICS users.</p

Patient characteristics.

<p>Patient characteristics.</p