Respiratory symptoms among infants at risk for asthma: association with surfactant protein A haplotypes

BACKGROUND: We examined the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in loci encoding surfactant protein A (SFTPA) and risk of wheeze and persistent cough during the first year of life among a cohort of infants at risk for developing asthma. METHODS: Between September 1996 and December 1998, mothers of newborn infants were invited to participate if they had an older child with clinician-diagnosed asthma. Each mother was given a standardized questionnaire within 4 months of her infant's birth. Infant respiratory symptoms were collected during quarterly telephone interviews at 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Due to the association of SFTPA polymorphisms and race/ethnicity, analyses were restricted to 221 white infants for whom whole blood and respiratory data were available. Ordered logistic regression models were used to examine the association between respiratory symptom frequency and SFTPA haplotypes. RESULTS: The 6A allele haplotype of SFTPA1, with an estimated frequency of 6% among our study infants, was associated with an increased risk of persistent cough (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.71, 7.98) and wheeze (OR 4.72, 95% CI 2.20, 10.11). The 6A/1A haplotype of SFTPA, found among approximately 5% of the infants, was associated with an increased risk of persistent cough (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.39, 7.36) and wheeze (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.43, 7.37). CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms within SFTPA loci may be associated with wheeze and persistent cough in white infants at risk for asthma. These associations require replication and exploration in other ethnic/racial groups

Exposure to animals and risk of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a multicenter case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An inverse association between early contact with microbial compounds and respiratory allergies is well established. The protective effect of infant contact with animals was also shown for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to test the association between animal contact in infancy and oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (OA JIA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Parents of children with OA JIA registered at the Hospital for Pediatric Rheumatology in Garmisch-Partenkirchen were asked to complete a questionnaire. Children who underwent strabismus surgery at six referral centers for ophthalmology served as controls. Children age 6 to 18 years born in Germany without malformations were included (238 cases; response 89% and 832 controls; response 86%). Data were analyzed using logistic regression models after adjusting for potential confounders.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Neither place of living (urban vs. rural area), living on a farm, nor regular farm animal (adjusted odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.42-1.47) or pet contact (0.79; 0.55-1.14) during infancy were clearly related to case status. Allergic rhinitis was inversely related to OA JIA (0.57; 0.34-0.95).</p> <p>Neither place of living (urban vs. rural area), living on a farm, nor regular farm animal (adjusted odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.42-1.47) or pet contact (0.79; 0.55-1.14) during infancy were related to case status. Allergic rhinitis was inversely related to OA JIA (0.57; 0.34-0.95).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Contact with farm environments in infancy might not be associated with OA JIA. This finding is consistent with previous findings for diabetes mellitus type 1 but contradicts results for IBD and SLE.</p

Mapping Proprioception across a 2D Horizontal Workspace

Relatively few studies have been reported that document how proprioception varies across the workspace of the human arm. Here we examined proprioceptive function across a horizontal planar workspace, using a new method that avoids active movement and interactions with other sensory modalities. We systematically mapped both proprioceptive acuity (sensitivity to hand position change) and bias (perceived location of the hand), across a horizontal-plane 2D workspace. Proprioception of both the left and right arms was tested at nine workspace locations and in 2 orthogonal directions (left-right and forwards-backwards). Subjects made repeated judgments about the position of their hand with respect to a remembered proprioceptive reference position, while grasping the handle of a robotic linkage that passively moved their hand to each judgement location. To rule out the possibility that the memory component of the proprioceptive testing procedure may have influenced our results, we repeated the procedure in a second experiment using a persistent visual reference position. Both methods resulted in qualitatively similar findings. Proprioception is not uniform across the workspace. Acuity was greater for limb configurations in which the hand was closer to the body, and was greater in a forward-backward direction than in a left-right direction. A robust difference in proprioceptive bias was observed across both experiments. At all workspace locations, the left hand was perceived to be to the left of its actual position, and the right hand was perceived to be to the right of its actual position. Finally, bias was smaller for hand positions closer to the body. The results of this study provide a systematic map of proprioceptive acuity and bias across the workspace of the limb that may be used to augment computational models of sensory-motor control, and to inform clinical assessment of sensory function in patients with sensory-motor deficits

The effect of sound insulation and ventilation behaviour in homes around Schiphol on the quality of the indoor environment

The effects on the homes' indoor environment of sound insulation and changed ventilation behaviour of the residents due to noise annoyance from road- and air traffic, was assessed in 92 homes in the vicinity of Schiphol Airport. Air concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), soot, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic hydrocarbons were measured in the living room. In collected house-dust from the livingroom floor the content of endotoxins (from gram-negative bacteria), EPS(pen/asp) (from moulds), beta(1,3)glucane (from moulds) and house dust mite allergen (Der p 1) were measured. No statical significant differences in measured levels were found between homes with and homes without sound insulation. In addition, no statical significant differences in levels were found between homes of residents who had changed their ventilation behaviour and houses of residents who did not change. It is concluded that in the houses that were investigated, sound insulation or changed ventilation behaviour due to noise annoyance from road- and air traffic, did not result in different levels of contaminants in indoor air or house dust.In dit onderzoek is door middel van metingen in 92 woningen rondom de luchthaven Schiphol getracht inzicht te krijgen in de invloed van geluidsisolatie van woningen en eventueel veranderd ventilatiegedrag wegens geluid van buiten, op de concentraties luchtverontreiniging in woningen en het gehalte microbiele componenten in huisstof. In de lucht van de woonkamer werd de concentratie fijn stof (PM2.5), de concentratie roet, de concentratie Polycyclische Aromatische Koolwaterstoffen (PAK), de concentratie Vluchtige Organische Koolwaterstoffen (VOK) en de concentraties NO2 bepaald. Verder werd in huisstof afkomstig van de woonkamervloer van deze woningen het gehalte endotoxinen (afkomstig van gram-negatieve bacterien), het gehalte EPS(pen/asp) (afkomstig van schimmels), het gehalte beta(1,3)glucaan (ook afkomstig van schimmels) en het gehalte huisstofmijtallergeen (Der p 1) bepaald. Voor alle gemeten componenten werden geen statistisch significant aantoonbare verschillen gevonden tussen woningen met en woningen zonder aangebrachte geluidsisolatie. In het onderzoek was ook gevraagd of mensen minder gebruik maakten van ventilatiemogelijkheden wegens geluid van buiten. Voor geen van de gemeten componenten was een statistisch significant verschil aan te tonen tussen mensen die hun ventilatiegedrag aanpasten aan geluid van buiten en mensen die dat niet deden. Op basis van dit onderzoek kan geconcludeerd worden dat geluidsisolatie of verminderde ventilatie (zoals ervaren door de bewoners) wegens geluid van buiten niet zal leiden tot hogere concentraties van de hier onderzochte stoffen in de binnenlucht en in het huisstof

The effect of sound insulation and ventilation behaviour in homes around Schiphol on the quality of the indoor environment

In dit onderzoek is door middel van metingen in 92 woningen rondom de luchthaven Schiphol getracht inzicht te krijgen in de invloed van geluidsisolatie van woningen en eventueel veranderd ventilatiegedrag wegens geluid van buiten, op de concentraties luchtverontreiniging in woningen en het gehalte microbiele componenten in huisstof. In de lucht van de woonkamer werd de concentratie fijn stof (PM2.5), de concentratie roet, de concentratie Polycyclische Aromatische Koolwaterstoffen (PAK), de concentratie Vluchtige Organische Koolwaterstoffen (VOK) en de concentraties NO2 bepaald. Verder werd in huisstof afkomstig van de woonkamervloer van deze woningen het gehalte endotoxinen (afkomstig van gram-negatieve bacterien), het gehalte EPS(pen/asp) (afkomstig van schimmels), het gehalte beta(1,3)glucaan (ook afkomstig van schimmels) en het gehalte huisstofmijtallergeen (Der p 1) bepaald. Voor alle gemeten componenten werden geen statistisch significant aantoonbare verschillen gevonden tussen woningen met en woningen zonder aangebrachte geluidsisolatie. In het onderzoek was ook gevraagd of mensen minder gebruik maakten van ventilatiemogelijkheden wegens geluid van buiten. Voor geen van de gemeten componenten was een statistisch significant verschil aan te tonen tussen mensen die hun ventilatiegedrag aanpasten aan geluid van buiten en mensen die dat niet deden. Op basis van dit onderzoek kan geconcludeerd worden dat geluidsisolatie of verminderde ventilatie (zoals ervaren door de bewoners) wegens geluid van buiten niet zal leiden tot hogere concentraties van de hier onderzochte stoffen in de binnenlucht en in het huisstof.The effects on the homes' indoor environment of sound insulation and changed ventilation behaviour of the residents due to noise annoyance from road- and air traffic, was assessed in 92 homes in the vicinity of Schiphol Airport. Air concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), soot, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic hydrocarbons were measured in the living room. In collected house-dust from the livingroom floor the content of endotoxins (from gram-negative bacteria), EPS(pen/asp) (from moulds), beta(1,3)glucane (from moulds) and house dust mite allergen (Der p 1) were measured. No statical significant differences in measured levels were found between homes with and homes without sound insulation. In addition, no statical significant differences in levels were found between homes of residents who had changed their ventilation behaviour and houses of residents who did not change. It is concluded that in the houses that were investigated, sound insulation or changed ventilation behaviour due to noise annoyance from road- and air traffic, did not result in different levels of contaminants in indoor air or house dust.VROM-DGM V&amp;W WV

Short and long term variability of the interrupter technique under field and standardised conditions in 3-6 year old children

Background: The short and long term variability of the interrupter technique was assessed to determine whether interrupter resistance is a stable individual characteristic over time. The effect of field and standardised measurement conditions on the within-subject variability of the interrupter technique was also examined. Methods: The interrupter technique was studied under field and standardised conditions in children aged 3-6 years. Under field conditions, five investigators performed the measurements using two different measurement devices in random sequence. Both short term (20-30 minutes) and long term variability (median 38 days) were assessed in 32 children. Under standardised conditions, a single investigator conducted all measurements using a single device; the repeated measurements were conducted at the same time of day in a familiar quiet classroom. Long term variability (median 11 days) was estimated in 15 children. Within-subject standard deviations were estimated by analysis of variance with adjustment for the effects of different investigators and measurement devices on within-subject variability under field conditions. Results: Under field conditions within-subject standard deviations for short and long term variability were 0.10 kPa/l/s (adjusted 0.10 kPa/l/s) and 0.13 kPa/l/s (adjusted 0.14 kPa/l/s), respectively. Under standardised conditions the within-subject standard deviation for long term variability was 0.10 kPa/l/s. Conclusions: Measurement of interrupter resistance under field conditions only slightly increased the within-subject variability compared with standardised conditions. The results indicate that interrupter resistance is a stable individual characteristic over a period of some weeks

Short and long term variability of the interrupter technique under field and standardised conditions in 3-6 year old children

Background: The short and long term variability of the interrupter technique was assessed to determine whether interrupter resistance is a stable individual characteristic over time. The effect of field and standardised measurement conditions on the within-subject variability of the interrupter technique was also examined.Methods: The interrupter technique was studied under field and standardised conditions in children aged 3-6 years. Under field conditions, five investigators performed the measurements using two different measurement devices in random sequence. Both short term (20-30 minutes) and long term variability (median 38 days) were assessed in 32 children. Under standardised conditions, a single investigator conducted all measurements using a single device; the repeated measurements were conducted at the same time of day in a familiar quiet classroom. Long term variability (median 11 days) was estimated in 15 children. Within-subject standard deviations were estimated by analysis of variance with adjustment for the effects of different investigators and measurement devices on within-subject variability under field conditions.Results: Under field conditions within-subject standard deviations for short and long term variability were 0.10 kPa/l/s (adjusted 0.10 kPa/l/s) and 0.13 kPa/l/s (adjusted 0.14 kPa/l/s), respectively. Under standardised conditions the within-subject standard deviation for long term variability was 0.10 kPa/l/s.Conclusions: Measurement of interrupter resistance under field conditions only slightly increased the within-subject variability compared with standardised conditions. The results indicate that interrupter resistance is a stable individual characteristic over a period of some weeks.</p