| 1. |
- Almqvist, Catarina, et al.
(författare)
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Heredity, pet ownership, and confounding control in a population-based birth cohort
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 111, s. 800-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The association between pet ownership in childhood and subsequent allergic disease is controversial. Bias related to selection of pet exposure has been suggested as a reason for contradictory study results.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate how pet exposure depends on family history of allergic disease, smoking, and socioeconomic factors in a prospective birth cohort.METHODS: Parents of 4089 two-month-old children answered a questionnaire that included detailed questions about family history of asthma (maternal, paternal, and sibling), rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome, pollen and pet allergy, smoking habits, parental occupation, and family pet ownership (cat and dog). Dust samples collected from the mothers' beds were analyzed for Fel d 1 and Can f 1 in a subgroup of the cohort.RESULTS: Cats were less frequently kept in families with parental asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, or pet or pollen allergy (3.5% to 5.8%) than in families without parental allergic disease (10.8% to 11.8%). Dogs were less common in families with (3.3%) than in families without (5.9%) parental atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome. Families with smoking mothers and those with low socioeconomic index kept cats and dogs more frequently. Cat allergen levels were lower in homes with than in homes without maternal pet allergy, and this tended to hold true even for homes without a cat. Cat ownership decreased from birth to 2 years of age, especially in families with parental history of allergic diseases.CONCLUSION: There seems to be a selection of pet exposure based on parental history of allergy, maternal smoking, and socioeconomic factors. This has to be taken into consideration in evaluations of risk associations between pet exposure and allergic disease in childhood.
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| 2. |
- Bergh, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Organophosphate and phthalate esters in indoor air : a comparison between multi-storey buildings with high and low prevalence of sick building symptoms
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1464-0325 .- 1464-0333. ; 13:7, s. 2001-2009
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An extensive study has been conducted of the prevalence of organophosphorous flame retardants/plasticizers and phthalate ester plasticizers in indoor air. The targeted substances were measured in 45 multi-storey apartment buildings in Stockholm, Sweden. The apartment buildings were classified as high or low risk with regard to the reporting of sick building symptoms (SBS) within the project Healthy Sustainable Houses in Stockholm (3H). Air samples were taken from two to four apartments per building (in total 169 apartments) to facilitate comparison within and between buildings. Association with building characteristics have been examined as well as association with specific sources by combining chemical analysis and exploratory uni- and multivariate data analysis. The study contributes to the overall perspective of levels of organophosphate and phthalate ester in indoor air enabling comparison with other studies. The results indicated little or no difference in the concentrations of the target substances between the two risk classifications of the buildings. The differences between the apartments sampled within (inter) buildings were greater than the differences between (intra) buildings. The concentrations measured in air ranged up to 1,200 ng/m3 for organophosphate esters and up to 11,000 ng/m3 for phthalate esters. Results in terms of sources were discerned e.g. PVC flooring is a major source of benzylbutyl phthalate in indoor air.
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| 3. |
- Brendler-Lindqvist, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Overqualification at work and risk of hospitalization for psychiatric and somatic diseases among immigrants in Sweden : a prospective register-based study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH). - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 48:8, s. 632-640
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study aimed to (i) describe the prevalence of overqualification at work among immigrants in Sweden and (ii) analyze any association between overqualification and the risk of hospitalization for somatic and psychiatric disease among refugees and labor immigrants.Methods: We performed a prospective register study in a cohort of 120 339 adults who immigrated to Sweden in 1991-2005 and were employed in 2006. Education-occupation status was defined as the combination of an individual's highest level of education and their occupation skill level. Individuals were followed from 2007 to 2016 with regard to hospitalization for a psychiatric, cardiovascular, respiratory or musculoskeletal disease or diabetes. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, reason for residence and duration of residence.Results: The overall prevalence of overqualification among immigrants with an academic education was 39%. Overqualified individuals had an increased risk of hospitalization for any disease (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.21-1.46) compared to "job-matched with an academic education". However, the risk estimates were lower than that of "job-matched with no academic education" (HR 1.56, 1.46-1.68). The increased risk of hospitalization for a psychiatric disease of overqualified individuals did not differ from that of job-matched with no academic education.Conclusion: Our study showed that being overqualified was associated with poorer health outcomes than job-matched individuals with an academic education. Considering the high prevalence of overqualification in immigrants, this constitutes a concern, for both society and individuals.
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| 4. |
- Hallberg, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic and environmental influence on lung function impairment in Swedish twins
- 2010
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Ingår i: Respiratory Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1465-9921 .- 1465-993X. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The understanding of the influence of smoking and sex on lung function and symptoms is important for understanding diseases such as COPD. The influence of both genes and environment on lung function, smoking behaviour and the presence of respiratory symptoms has previously been demonstrated for each of these separately. Hence, smoking can influence lung function by co-varying not only as an environmental factor, but also by shared genetic pathways. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate heritability for different aspects of lung function, and to investigate how the estimates are affected by adjustments for smoking and respiratory symptoms. Methods: The current study is based on a selected sample of adult twins from the Swedish Twin Registry. Pairs were selected based on background data on smoking and respiratory symptoms collected by telephone interview. Lung function was measured as FEV1, VC and DLco. Pack years were quantified, and quantitative genetic analysis was performed on lung function data adjusting stepwise for sex, pack years and respiratory symptoms. Results: Fully adjusted heritability for VC was 59% and did not differ by sex, with smoking and symptoms explaining only a small part of the total variance. Heritabilities for FEV1 and DLco were sex specific. Fully adjusted estimates were 10 and 15% in men and 46% and 39% in women, respectively. Adjustment for smoking and respiratory symptoms altered the estimates differently in men and women. For FEV1 and DLco, the variance explained by smoking and symptoms was larger in men. Further, smoking and symptoms explained genetic variance in women, but was primarily associated with shared environmental effects in men. Conclusion: Differences between men and women were found in how smoking and symptoms influence the variation in lung function. Pulmonary gas transfer variation related to the menstrual cycle has been shown before, and the findings regarding DLco in the present study indicates gender specific environmental susceptibility not shown before. As a consequence the results suggest that patients with lung diseases such as COPD could benefit from interventions that are sex specific.
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| 5. |
- Helgesson, Magnus, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Healthy migrant effect in the Swedish context: a register-based, longitudinal cohort study
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:3, s. e026972-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies have found a ‘healthy-migrant effect’ (HME) among arriving migrants, that is, a better health status compared with others in the home country, but also in comparison with the population in the host country. The aims were to investigate whether the HME hypothesis is applicable to the Swedish context, that is, if health outcomes differed between a group of mainly labour migrants (Western migrants) and a group of mainly refugee/family reunion migrants (non-Western migrants) compared with the native Swedish population, and if there were any correlations between labour market attachment (LMA) and these health outcomes.DesignRegister-based, longitudinal cohort study.ParticipantsThe cohort was defined on 31 December 1990 and consisted of all migrants aged 18–47 years who arrived in Sweden in 1985–1990 (n=74 954) and a reference population of native Swedes (n=1 405 047) in the same age span. They were followed for three consecutive 6-year periods (1991–1996, 1997–2002 and 2003–2008) and were assessed for five measures of health: hospitalisation for cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders, mortality, disability pension, and sick leave.ResultsWestern migrants had, compared with native Swedes, lower or equal HRs for all health measures during all time periods, while non-Western migrants displayed higher or equal HRs for all health measures, except for mortality, during all time periods. Age, educational level, occupation and LMA explained part of the difference between migrants and native Swedes. High LMA was associated with higher HRs for cardiovascular disorders among Western migrants, higher HRs of psychiatric disorders among non-Western migrants and higher HRs of mortality among both migrant groups compared with native Swedes.ConclusionsThere were indications of a HME among Western migrants, while less proof of a HME among non-Western migrants. Stratification for LMA and different migrant categories showed some interesting differences, and measurements of the HME may be inconclusive if not stratified by migrant category or other relevant variables.
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| 6. |
- Helgesson, Magnus, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainable Earnings among Immigrants, and the Role of Health Status for Self-Sufficiency : A 10-Year Follow-Up Study of Labour Immigrants and Refugees to Sweden 2000–2006
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to investigate economic self-sufficiency for immigrants, and how health status affected self-sufficiency. The proportion of self-sufficiency during years 1–10 after receiving a residence permit is presented for all non-European labour immigrants (n = 1259) and refugees (n = 23,859), aged 18–54, who immigrated to Sweden 2000–2006, and compared to a control group of Swedish-born (n = 144,745). The risk of not being self-sufficient in year 10 was analysed with Cox regression models, and the results are presented as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Moreover, the impact on the self-sufficiency of having a diagnosis from specialised health care during the first five years in Sweden was analysed. The results showed that half of the refugees and three-quarters of the labour immigrants were self-sufficient 10 years after residency. The adjusted risk of not being self-sufficient at year 10 was 80% higher among labour immigrants (HR = 1.8; CI = 1.6–2.0) and more than two-fold among refugees (HR = 2.7; CI = 2.6–2.8) compared to the Swedish-born. Having a diagnosis from specialised health care during the first five years in Sweden had an impact on self-sufficiency in all groups; however, the impact of having a diagnosis did not differ between refugees and Swedish-born. Measures must be taken to increase immigrants’ work participation.
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| 7. |
- Helgesson, Magnus, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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The Healthy Migrant Effect among migrants to Sweden
- 2018
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Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 28:Supplement: 1, s. 19-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 8. |
- Larsson, Britt-Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Limited airway effects in mild asthmatics after exposure to air pollution in a road tunnel
- 2010
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 104:12, s. 1912-1918
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ambient air pollution is a contributing factor to respiratory morbidity and mortality and asthmatics are a particularly vulnerable population. The aim of the study was to investigate whether acute exposure to traffic related air pollution in a road tunnel would increase bronchial responsiveness in mild asthmatics, and if this would be accompanied by increased measures of inflammatory markers in the airways assessed by nasal lavage (NAL) and induced sputum. Fourteen mild asthmatics (7 treated with inhaled corticosteroids) were exposed for 2 h in a road tunnel and a control environment, respectively, separated by at least 3 weeks. Symptoms and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were recorded. Seven hours following exposure sessions, subjects underwent measurements of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), spirometry, and a bronchial provocation test. NAL, induced sputum and blood samples were collected. The median PM(2.5) and PM(10) levels during the exposure occasions in the road tunnel were 80 (range 41-93) μg/m(3) and 183 (72-213) μg/m(3) respectively. Irritative symptoms from the airways increased and PEF decreased after road tunnel exposure. Increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α were observed in NAL fluid from subjects without ongoing inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and the degree of bronchial responsiveness in asthmatics did not change significantly after tunnel exposure. We conclude that asthmatics exhibit increased symptoms, decreased PEF and signs of inflammatory response in the upper airways, after a 2 h road tunnel exposure. Our findings may further emphasize asthmatics as a vulnerable group to common air pollutants.
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| 9. |
- Levänen, Bettina, et al.
(författare)
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Altered microRNA profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid exosomes in asthmatic patients.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 131:3, s. 894-903
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Asthma is characterized by increased airway narrowing in response to nonspecific stimuli. The disorder is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Exosomes are nanosized vesicles of endosomal origin released from inflammatory and epithelial cells that have been implicated in asthma. In this study we characterized the microRNA (miRNA) content of exosomes in healthy control subjects and patients with mild intermittent asthma both at unprovoked baseline and in response to environmental challenge.OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) exosomal miRNA profiles due to asthma, and following subway air exposure.METHODS: Exosomes were isolated from BALF from healthy control subjects (n = 10) and patients with mild intermittent asthma (n = 10) after subway and control exposures. Exosomal RNA was analyzed by using microarrays containing probes for 894 human miRNAs, and selected findings were validated with quantitative RT-PCR. Results were analyzed by using multivariate modeling.RESULTS: The presence of miRNAs was confirmed in exosomes from BALF of both asthmatic patients and healthy control subjects. Significant differences in BALF exosomal miRNA was detected for 24 miRNAs with a subset of 16 miRNAs, including members of the let-7 and miRNA-200 families, providing robust classification of patients with mild nonsymptomatic asthma from healthy subjects with 72% cross-validated predictive power (Q(2) = 0.72). In contrast, subway exposure did not cause any significant alterations in miRNA profiles.CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate substantial differences in exosomal miRNA profiles between healthy subjects and patients with unprovoked, mild, stable asthma. These changes might be important in the inflammatory response leading to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma.
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| 10. |
- Lundström, Susanna L., et al.
(författare)
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Asthmatics exhibit altered oxylipin profiles compared to healthy individuals after subway air exposure
- 2011
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 6:8, s. e23864-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and oxidants are important factors in causing exacerbations in asthmatics, and the source and composition of pollutants greatly affects pathological implications.Objectives: This randomized crossover study investigated responses of the respiratory system to Stockholm subway air in asthmatics and healthy individuals. Eicosanoids and other oxylipins were quantified in the distal lung to provide a measure of shifts in lipid mediators in association with exposure to subway air relative to ambient air.Methods: Sixty-four oxylipins representing the cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolic pathways were screened using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-fluid. Validations through immunocytochemistry staining of BAL-cells were performed for 15-LOX-1, COX-1, COX-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma). Multivariate statistics were employed to interrogate acquired oxylipin and immunocytochemistry data in combination with patient clinical information.Results: Asthmatics and healthy individuals exhibited divergent oxylipin profiles following exposure to ambient and subway air. Significant changes were observed in 8 metabolites of linoleic- and alpha-linolenic acid synthesized via the 15-LOX pathway, and of the COX product prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Oxylipin levels were increased in healthy individuals following exposure to subway air, whereas asthmatics evidenced decreases or no change.Conclusions: Several of the altered oxylipins have known or suspected bronchoprotective or anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting a possible reduced anti-inflammatory response in asthmatics following exposure to subway air. These observations may have ramifications for sensitive subpopulations in urban areas.
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