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- Limpens, J., et al.
(författare)
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Glasshouse vs field experiments : do they yield ecologically similar results for assessing N impacts on peat mosses?
- 2012
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 195:2, s. 408-418
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Peat bogs have accumulated more atmospheric carbon (C) than any other terrestrial ecosystem today. Most of this C is associated with peat moss (Sphagnum) litter. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can decrease Sphagnum production, compromising the C sequestration capacity of peat bogs. The mechanisms underlying the reduced production are uncertain, necessitating multifactorial experiments. We investigated whether glasshouse experiments are reliable proxies for field experiments for assessing interactions between N deposition and environment as controls on Sphagnum N concentration and production. We performed a meta-analysis over 115 glasshouse experiments and 107 field experiments. We found that glasshouse and field experiments gave similar qualitative and quantitative estimates of changes in Sphagnum N concentration in response to N application. However, glasshouse-based estimates of changes in production even qualitative assessments diverged from field experiments owing to a stronger N effect on production response in absence of vascular plants in the glasshouse, and a weaker N effect on production response in presence of vascular plants compared to field experiments. Thus, although we need glasshouse experiments to study how interacting environmental factors affect the response of Sphagnum to increased N deposition, we need field experiments to properly quantify these effects.
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- Makowska, J. S., et al.
(författare)
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Respiratory hypersensitivity reactions to NSAIDs in Europe: the global allergy and asthma network (GA(2)LEN) survey
- 2016
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Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 71:11, s. 1603-1611
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most prevalent drugs inducing hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of NSAID-induced respiratory symptoms in population across Europe and to assess its association with upper and lower respiratory tract disorders. MethodsThe GA(2)LEN survey was conducted in 22 centers in 15 European countries. Each of 19 centers selected random samples of 5000 adults aged 15-74 from their general population, and in three centers (Athens, Munich, Oslo), a younger population was sampled. Questionnaires including questions about age, gender, presence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, smoking status, and history of NSAID-induced hypersensitivity reactions were sent to participants by mail. Totally, 62 737 participants completed the questionnaires. ResultsThe mean prevalence of NSAID-induced dyspnea was 1.9% and was highest in the three Polish centers [Katowice (4.9%), Krakow (4.8%), and Lodz (4.4%)] and lowest in Skopje, (0.9%), Amsterdam (1.1%), and Umea (1.2%). In multivariate analysis, the prevalence of respiratory reactions to NSAIDs was higher in participants with chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms (Odds Ratio 2.12; 95%CI 1.78-2.74), asthma symptoms in last 12 months (2.7; 2.18-3.35), hospitalization due to asthma (1.53; 1.22-1.99), and adults vs children (1.53; 1.24-1.89), but was not associated with allergic rhinitis. ConclusionOur study documented significant variation between European countries in the prevalence of NSAID-induced respiratory hypersensitivity reactions, and association with chronic airway diseases, but also with environmental factors.
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- Tomassen, P., et al.
(författare)
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Reliability of EP3OS symptom criteria and nasal endoscopy in the assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis - a GA2LEN study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 66:4, s. 556-561
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EP3OS) incorporates symptomatic, endoscopic, and radiologic criteria in the clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), while in epidemiological studies, the definition is based on symptoms only. We aimed to assess the reliability and validity of a symptom-based definition of CRS using data from the GA2LEN European survey. Methods: On two separate occasions, 1700 subjects from 11 centers provided information on symptoms of CRS, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. CRS was defined by the epidemiological EP3OS symptom criteria. The difference in prevalence of CRS between two study points, the standardized absolute repeatability, and the chance-corrected repeatability (kappa) were determined. In two centers, 342 participants underwent nasal endoscopy. The association of symptom-based CRS with endoscopy and self-reported doctor-diagnosed CRS was assessed. Results: There was a decrease in prevalence of CRS between the two study phases, and this was consistent across all centers (-3.0%, 95% CI: -5.0 to -1.0%, I2 = 0). There was fair to moderate agreement between the two occasions (kappa = 39.6). Symptom-based CRS was significantly associated with positive endoscopy in nonallergic subjects, and with self-reported doctor-diagnosed CRS in all subjects, irrespective of the presence of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a symptom-based definition of CRS, according to the epidemiological part of the EP3OS criteria, has a moderate reliability over time, is stable between study centers, is not influenced by the presence of allergic rhinitis, and is suitable for the assessment of geographic variation in prevalence of CRS.
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- Tomassen, P., et al.
(författare)
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Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-specific IgE is associated with asthma in the general population : a GA(2)LEN study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 68:10, s. 1289-1297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSpecific IgE to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins (SE-IgE) has been associated with asthma. In the general population, we aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for serum SE-IgE and to examine the association with asthma.MethodsA postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults in 19 centers across Europe. A random sample of respondents was invited for clinical examination upon which they answered a questionnaire, underwent skin prick tests (SPTs) for common aeroallergens, and provided blood for measurement of total IgE and SE-IgE. Risks were analyzed within centers using weighted logistic regression, and overall estimates calculated using fixed-effects meta-analysis.Results2908 subjects were included in this analysis. Prevalence of positive SE-IgE was 29.3%; no significant geographic variation was observed. In contrast to positive skin prick tests, SE-IgE was more common in smokers (<15 pack-year: OR 1.11, P=0.079, 15 pack-year: OR 1.70, P<0.001), and prevalence did not decrease in older age-groups or in those with many siblings. Total IgE concentrations were higher in those with positive SE-IgE than in those with positive SPT. SE-IgE was associated with asthma (OR 2.10, 95% confidence interval [1.60-2.76], P=0.001) in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was independent of SPT result and homogeneous across all centers.ConclusionsWe report for the first time that SE-IgE is common in the general population throughout Europe and that its risk factors differ from those of IgE against aeroallergens. This is the first study to show that SE-IgE is significantly and independently associated with asthma in the general population.
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- Bos, I., et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid-beta, Tau, and Cognition in Cognitively Normal Older Individuals: Examining the Necessity to Adjust for Biomarker Status in Normative Data
- 2018
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated whether amyloid-beta (A beta) and tau affected cognition in cognitively normal (CN) individuals, and whether norms for neuropsychological tests based on biomarker-negative individuals would improve early detection of dementia. We included 907 CN individuals from 8 European cohorts and from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative. All individuals were aged above 40, had A beta status and neuropsychological data available. Linear mixed models were used to assess the associations of Ali and tau with five neuropsychological tests assessing memory (immediate and delayed recall of Auditory Verbal Learning Test, AVLT), verbal fluency (Verbal Fluency Test, VFT), attention and executive functioning (Trail Making Test, TMT, part A and B). All test except the VFT were associated with status and this influence was augmented by age. We found no influence of tau on any of the cognitive tests. For the AVLT Immediate and Delayed recall and the TMT part A and B, we calculated norms in individuals without A beta pathology (A beta- norms), which we validated in an independent memory-clinic cohort by comparing their predictive accuracy to published norms. For memory tests, the A beta- norms rightfully identified an additional group of individuals at risk of dementia. For non-memory test we found no difference. We confirmed the relationship between Ao and cognition in cognitively normal individuals. The Af3- norms for memory tests in combination with published norms improve prognostic accuracy of dementia.
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- Hastan, D., et al.
(författare)
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Chronic rhinosinusitis in Europe : an underestimated disease. A GA(2)LEN study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - Copenhagen : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 66:9, s. 1216-1223
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common health problem, with significant medical costs and impact on general health. Even so, prevalence figures for Europe are unavailable. In this study, conducted by the GA(2)LEN network of excellence, the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and nasal Polyps (EP(3)OS) diagnostic criteria are applied to estimate variation in the prevalence of Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) for Europe. Method: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults aged 1575 years in 19 centres in Europe. Participants reported symptoms of CRS, and doctor diagnosed CRS, allergic rhinitis, age, gender and smoking history. Definition of CRS was based on the EP(3)OS diagnostic criteria: the presence of more than two of the symptoms: (i) nasal blockage, (ii) nasal discharge, (iii) facial pain/pressure or (iv) reduction in sense of smell, for >12 weeks in the past year - with at least one symptom being nasal blockage or discharge. Results: Information was obtained from 57 128 responders living in 19 centres in 12 countries. The overall prevalence of CRS by EP(3)OS criteria was 10.9% (range 6.9-27.1). CRS was more common in smokers than in nonsmokers (OR 1.7: 95% CI 1.6-1.9). The prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed CRS within centres was highly correlated with the prevalence of EP(3)OS-diagnosed CRS. Conclusion: This is the first European international multicentre prevalence study of CRS. In this multicentre survey of adults in Europe, about one in ten participants had CRS with marked geographical variation. Smoking was associated with having CRS in all parts of Europe.
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- Jarvis, D, et al.
(författare)
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Asthma in adults and its association with chronic rhinosinusitis : the GA(2) LEN survey in Europe
- 2012
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 67:1, s. 91-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The prevalence of asthma and its association with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have not been widely studied in population-based epidemiological surveys. Methods: The Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA2LEN) conducted a postal questionnaire in representative samples of adults living in Europe to assess the presence of asthma and CRS defined by the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps. The prevalence of self-reported current asthma by age group was determined. The association of asthma with CRS in each participating centre was assessed using logistic regression analyses, controlling for age, sex and smoking, and the effect estimates were combined using standard methods of meta-analysis. Results: Over 52 000 adults aged 18–75 years and living in 19 centres in 12 countries took part. In most centres, and overall, the reported prevalence of asthma was lower in older adults (adjusted OR for 65–74 years compared with 15–24 years: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.63–0.81). In all centres, there was a strong association of asthma with CRS (adjusted OR: 3.47; 95% CI: 3.20–3.76) at all ages. The association with asthma was stronger in those reporting both CRS and allergic rhinitis (adjusted OR: 11.85; 95% CI: 10.57–13.17). CRS in the absence of nasal allergies was positively associated with late-onset asthma. Conclusion: Geographical variation in the prevalence of self-reported asthma was observed across Europe, but overall, self-reported asthma was more common in young adults, women and smokers. In all age groups, men and women, and irrespective of smoking behaviour, asthma was also associated with CRS.
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- Blomme, K, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of allergic sensitization versus allergic rhinitis symptoms in an unselected population
- 2013
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Ingår i: International archives of allergy and immunology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0097 .- 1018-2438. ; 160:2, s. 200-207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b><i>Background:</i></b> Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic disorder and its prevalence has significantly increased worldwide, nowadays affecting up to 40% of the population in young adults. The objective of the present survey was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic sensitization and the prevalence of clinically diagnosed AR in a sample of the Belgian population, and to estimate the effect of age and gender. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed a cross-sectional population-based study at an annual public fair in Ghent. Participants underwent a skin prick test (SPT) to 3 aeroallergens: a mix of trees (hazel, alder, and birch), grass pollen, and house dust mite (HDM). The clinical relevance of sensitization was assessed by relating relevant symptoms of AR to the corresponding SPT. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 2,320 participants (1,475 females, median age 44.7 years, range 3–86) were included in this study. The standardized prevalence rates of sensitization were 13.2% for tree mix, 25.9% for grass pollen, and 25.9% for HDM. Sensitization to at least one of the allergens was present in 40.3% of the subjects. Symptomatic sensitization related to trees was reported in 9.7% of cases, grass-related AR was 17.6%, and HDM-related AR was 17.1%. The overall prevalence of AR was 30.9%. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this study we demonstrated a 40.3% prevalence of a positive SPT to one or more common aeroallergens. A clinical diagnosis of AR was present in 30.9% of cases, peaking in the third and fourth decades of life. It is to be expected that in the next decades, when this generation grows older, the general AR prevalence will further increase.
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