Relationship between influx of yellow dust and bronchial asthma mortality using satellite data

The amount of yellow dust that reaches Japan has recently increased. This increase could worsen asthma attacks. However, it is difficult to conduct quantitative research because yellow dust is widely dispersed. Therefore, very few epidemiological studies regarding yellow dust and asthma have been conducted. Given that, we applied a monitoring method that can investigate the amount of incoming yellow dust by using satellite data to this epidemiological study. This study attempts to shed light on such an important public health issue in Asia where cross boundary air pollution problems are increasing in recent years, by using remotely sensed satellite data and to examine the influx of yellow dust and its association with bronchial asthma mortality in Western Japan. We evaluated the relationship between the annual average amount of incoming yellow dust obtained from satellite data and the annual average mortality rate from asthma. Spearman\u27s rank correlation result revealed no significant correlation (r = 0.268, n = 8, P > 0.05). However, we were able to conduct a quantitative analysis on the influx of yellow dust conditions using satellite data collected over a period of 10 years. This confirms the applicability of use of satellite data in assessing future epidemiological research regarding yellow dust and air polluted related diseases

米国ルイジアナ州におけるHIV/AIDS感染者とクリプトスポリジウム症の相関関係についての流行調査

クリプトスポリジウム(Cryptosporidium parvum)の人体寄生例が初めて報告されたのは1976年であったが,病原体として本格的に認識されるに至ったのは後天性免疫不全症候群(AIDS)に伴う日和見感染症としてである.1982年にはAIDS下痢患者にクリプトスポリジウム症の重症例が多数みとめられ,種々の抗生剤および抗原虫剤を投与しても治癒しないことが報告された.また,衛生管理先進国である米国において水質環境汚染や水道水供給システムの不備などに起因するクリプトスポリジウム症の大規模な流行が多発している.このような状況の中で全米第9位のAIDS感染率と第12位のAIDS患者数を抱えるルイジアナ州ではクリプトスポリジウム症の疫学的調査とそのデータ公開が感染状況の把握および予防対策に必要不可欠であるとの見地に立ち,ルイジアナ州公衆衛生局と米国疾病管理予防センター(CDC)によるASDスタディを基にした水質・環境衛生管理システムが確立されている.CDCはルイジアナ州において1997年に新たに904人のAIDS患者,1,338人のHIV感染者が確定診断され,同州のHIV感染者およびAIDS患者の総計は9,830人,そのうち4,414人がAIDS患者と診断されたと報告している.さらにCD4値が200cell/μl以下のルイジアナ州AIDS患者にクリプトスポリジウム症との強い相関関係が米国他州同様にみとめられ,水質汚染が原因とされるクリプトスポリジウム症感染は1998年のルイジアナ州の疫学調査によるとニューオリンズ市のHIV感染者のうち14人にみとめられた.このような現況を踏まえて過去10年間(1989～1998)に渡るルイジアナ州HIV/AIDSサーベイランスを軸に年齢,人種,性別,抗AIDS治療の有無,CD4値などを考慮したHIV感染者とAIDS患者に対するクリプトスポリジウム症感染の疫学調査の概略を報告する.Cryptosporidiosis is the most common causes of diarrhea in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in the United States. First human case was diagnosed in 1976. Cryptosporidiosis persisted for 4 weeks in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive person confers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined diagnosis of AIDS. Cryptosporidiosis is most particularly a danger for the immunocompromised, especially HIV-positive persons and AIDS patients. About 2.2% of all patients whose cases of AIDS are reported to CDC have cryptosporidiosis as their AIDS-defining illness. Hospital-based studies indicate that cryptosporidiosis is diagnosed in 10～20% of AIDS patients who have diarrhea. Because diarrhea occurs in about half of all AIDS patients each year, which is estimated that the annual rate of cryptosporidial infection among all AIDS patients may approach 5～10%. Cryptosporidium parvum causes self-limited disease in immunocompetent hosts. In immunocompromised persons including HIV disease, profuse chronic watery diarrhea develops and leads to malabsorption, malnutrition, dehydration and cachexia. In the recent CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (Vol.9, No.2), Louisiana ranked 9th highest in state AIDS case rates and 12th in number of AIDS cases reported in 1997. Statewide during 1997, 904 new AIDS cases were diagnosed, and 1,338 new HIV cases were detected and reported. There were 9,830 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana, of which 4,414 had been diagnosed with AIDS at the end of 1997. The analysis data come from Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease (ASD) study. Cryptosporidiosis can occur at any time in the course of HIV infection. Data reported here suggest that among HIV-positive patients, cryptosporidiosis occurred more frequently among those with depleted CD4^+ cell counts and among those who developed AIDS-related opportunistic infections (AIDS-OIs). A strong association between cryptosporidiosis and depleted CD4^+ cell counts (≤200 cells/μl) has been established in previous report

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