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- Jacquemin, B, et al.
(författare)
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Association between annoyance and individuals' values of nitrogen dioxide in a European setting.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of epidemiology and community health. - 1470-2738. ; 62:5, s. e12-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Annoyance caused by air pollution has been proposed as an indicator of exposure to air pollution. The aim of this study was to assess the geographical homogeneity of the relationship between annoyance and modelled home-based nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measurements. METHODS: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II was conducted in 2000-1, in 25 European centres in 12 countries. This analysis included 4753 subjects (from 37 in Tartu, Estonia, to 532 in Antwerp, Belgium) who answered the annoyance question and with available outdoor residential NO2 (4399 modelled and 354 measured) including 20 cities from 10 countries. Annoyance as a result of air pollution was self-reported on an 11-point scale (0, no disturbance at all; 10, intolerable disturbance). Demographic and socioeconomic factors, smoking status and the presence of respiratory symptoms or disease were measured through a standard questionnaire. Negative binomial regression was used. RESULTS: The median NO2 concentration was 27 microg.m(-3) (from 10 in Umeå, Sweden, to 57 in Barcelona, Spain). The mean of annoyance was 2.5 (from 0.7 in Reykjavik, Iceland, to 4.4 in Huelva, Spain). NO2 was associated with annoyance (ratio of the mean score 1.26 per 10 microg.m(-3), 95% CI 1.19 to 1.34). The association between NO2 and annoyance was heterogeneous among cities (p for heterogeneity <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Annoyance is associated with home outdoor air pollution but with a different strength by city. This indicates that annoyance is not a valid surrogate for air pollution exposure. Nevertheless, it may be a useful measure of perceived ambient air quality and could be considered a complementary tool for health surveillance.
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- Modig, Lars, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Vehicle exhaust outside the home and onset of asthma among adults
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 33:6, s. 1261-1267
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Few studies have investigated the relationship between vehicle exhaust and the new onset of asthma among adults. The aim of the present prospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between the cumulative incidence of asthma and onset of asthma among adults and vehicle exhaust concentrations at home. Participants from three Swedish cities included in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe cohort constituted the study population. Exposure at each participant's home was calculated using dispersion models. We also used <50 m distance to nearest major road as a more simple indicator of exposure. The adjusted model included 3,609 participants, of which 107 were classified as onset cases and 55 as true incident cases of asthma. There was a positive association between asthma onset (odds ratio (OR) per 10 microg x m(-3) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.99) and incident asthma (OR per 10 microg x m(-3) 1.54, 95% CI 1.00-2.36) and the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), which remained statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounders. The relationship between asthma and NO(2) was not significantly modified by sex, hay fever or wheeze. The risk of developing asthma was also significantly related to living close to a major road. The current study suggests that elevated levels of vehicle exhaust outside the home increase the risk of onset and incident asthma among adults.
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- Abrahamsson, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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A Th1/Th2-associated chemokine imbalance preceding allergic disease is influenced by birth size, breastfeeding, daycare and probiotics
- 2009
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Ingår i: in Allergy, vol 64. ; , s. 56-56
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Analyses of circulating chemokines offer novel tools to investigate the Th1/Th2 imbalance in allergic disease in vivo and explore the influence of pre- and postnatal factors in infancy. Objective: To relate circulating Th1- and Th2-associated chemokines to the development of allergic disease, pre- and postnatal factors and probiotic supplementation in infancy. Methods: Circulating levels of Th1-associated CXC-chemokine ligand (CXCL)9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 and Th2-associated CC-chemokine ligand (CCL)17, CCL18 and CCL22 were assessed with Luminex and ELISA at birth (n=109), 6 (n=104), 12 (n=116) and 24 months (n=123) in 179 infants completing a double-blind placebo-controlled allergy prevention trial with Lactobacillus reuteri during the last month of gestation and through the first year of life. The infants were followed regarding development of allergic disease and sensitization until two years of age. Results: The Th2-associated chemokines were as highest at birth and then decreased, whereas the Th1-associated chemokines increased with age. Low Th1- and high Th2-associated chemokine levels were observed in children developing allergic disease. Sensitization was preceded by elevated CCL22 and reduced CXCL11 levels. High Th2-associated chemokine46 levels were associated with increased birth length and weight and long duration of breastfeeding, and high Th1-associated chemokine levels with day-care attendance. Presence of L. reuteri in stool the first week of life was associated with low CCL17 and CCL22 and high CXCL11 levels at 6 months. Conclusion: Allergic disease in infancy was associated with low circulating Th1- and high Th2-associated chemokine levels during the first year of life. The chemokine levels were affected by both pre and –postnatal factors.
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- Analitis, A, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of cold weather on mortality : results from 15 European cities within the PHEWE project.
- 2008
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Ingår i: American journal of epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1476-6256 .- 0002-9262. ; 168:12, s. 1397-408
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Weather-related health effects have attracted renewed interest because of the observed and predicted climate change. The authors studied the short-term effects of cold weather on mortality in 15 European cities. The effects of minimum apparent temperature on cause- and age-specific daily mortality were assessed for the cold season (October-March) by using data from 1990-2000. For city-specific analysis, the authors used Poisson regression and distributed lag models, controlling for potential confounders. Meta-regression models summarized the results and explored heterogeneity. A 1 degrees C decrease in temperature was associated with a 1.35% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 1.53) increase in the daily number of total natural deaths and a 1.72% (95% CI: 1.44, 2.01), 3.30% (95% CI: 2.61, 3.99), and 1.25% (95% CI: 0.77, 1.73) increase in cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular deaths, respectively. The increase was greater for the older age groups. The cold effect was found to be greater in warmer (southern) cities and persisted up to 23 days, with no evidence of mortality displacement. Cold-related mortality is an important public health problem across Europe. It should not be underestimated by public health authorities because of the recent focus on heat-wave episodes.
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- Bedada, G. B., et al.
(författare)
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Urban background particulate matter and allergic sensitization in adults of ECRHS II
- 2007
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Ingår i: Int J Hyg Environ Health. - : Elsevier BV. - 1438-4639. ; 210:6, s. 691-700
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown weak or inconsistent associations between ambient air pollutants and allergic sensitization. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether regional urban air pollution may partly explain the large variation in the prevalence of allergic sensitization across cities of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II. METHODS: ECRHS is a cross-sectional survey initiated in 29 countries across Europe in the 1990s (ECRHS I) with a follow-up conducted 10 years later (ECRHS II). Subject characteristics were measured by questionnaires and blood tests conducted for the measurement of specific immunoglobulin E. Fine particle mass (PM(2.5), <2.5mum) and sulphur on PM(2.5) were measured in 21 centres and annual averages of urban regional background air pollution were calculated. Results were scaled by an interquartile range increase in ambient PM(2.5) (6.03mug/m(3)) and sulphur (1336ng/m(3)). Generalized estimating equations were applied to compute population average effect estimates with adjustment for age, gender, smoking habit, education and number of siblings. RESULTS: A notable variation in pollution level and prevalence of allergic sensitization was observed. Moreover, exposure to urban regional background air pollution was not associated with allergic sensitization; adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were 1.02 (0.95-1.09) for PM(2.5) and 1.08 (0.86-1.31) for sulphur. These statistically non-significant associations were sensitive to model specification. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that regional air pollution measured at fixed sites is not associated with allergic sensitization among adults in ECRHS II.
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- Brodin, N., et al.
(författare)
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Coaching patients with early rheumatoid arthritis to healthy physical activity : A multicenter, randomized, controlled study
- 2008
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - Hoboken, NJ : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 59:3, s. 325-331
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To investigate the effect of a 1-year coaching program for healthy physical activity on perceived health status, body function, and activity limitation in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. A total of 228 patients (169 women, 59 men, mean age 55 years, mean time since diagnosis 21 months) were randomized to 2 groups after assessments with the EuroQol visual analog scale (VAS), Grippit, Timed-Stands Test, Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion scale, walking in a figure-of-8, a visual analog scale for pain, the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index, a self-reported physical activity questionnaire, and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. All patients were regularly seen by rheumatologists and underwent rehabilitation as prescribed. Those in the intervention group were further individually coached by a physical therapist to reach or maintain healthy physical activity (=30 minutes, moderately intensive activity, most days of the week). Results. The retention rates after 1 year were 82% in the intervention group and 85% in the control group. The percentages of individuals in the intervention and control groups fulfilling the requirements for healthy physical activity were similar before (47% versus 51%, P > 0.05) and after (54% versus 44%, P > 0.05) the intervention. Analyses of outcome variables indicated improvements in the intervention group over the control group in the EuroQol VAS (P = 0.025) and muscle strength (Timed-Stands Test, P = 0.000) (Grippit, P = 0.003), but not in any other variables assessed. Conclusion. A 1-year coaching program for healthy physical activity resulted in improved perceived health status and muscle strength, but the mechanisms remain unclear, as self-reported physical activity at healthy level did not change. © 2008, American College of Rheumatology.
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- Engqvist, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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Interactions between single latex particles and silica surfaces studied with AFM
- 2007
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Ingår i: Colloids and Surfaces A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-7757 .- 1873-4359. ; 302:03-jan, s. 197-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The spreading of single styrene-acrylic latex particles on silicon oxide C surfaces was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Three latexes with different glass transition temperature (Tg) were used and the effects of temperature, time and preparation method were investigated. Particle sizes and shape were measured with AFM and the contact angles were calculated. The observed rate for the spreading of latex particles was low and it took several days before the particles reached steady state, even at temperatures well above their T-g. The experimental particle spreading results deviated with two orders of magnitude from predictions Using the WLF equation for polymer diffusion. The deviation could be attributed to polymer-surface interactions that slowed down the particle spreading. The work of adhesion was calculated using two models. The results from using the regular Young-Dupre equation and a modified version of this equation that also included the mechanical properties (E-modulus and Poisson's ratio) of the latexes, were compared. For soft latex particles the results from the two models agreed well and were of the order of 75 J/m(2), but for glassy latexes the Young-Dupre equation underestimated the work of adhesion.
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- Grönros, Julia, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular morphology and function in an ApoE-knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis
- 2008
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6135 .- 1522-1539. ; 295:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin on plaque progression and in vivo coronary artery function in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice, using noninvasive high-resolution ultrasound techniques. Eight-week-old male ApoE-KO mice ( n = 20) were fed a high-fat diet with or without rosuvastatin (10 μmol·kg−1·day−1) for 16 wk. When compared with control, rosuvastatin reduced total cholesterol levels ( P < 0.05) and caused significant retardation of lesion progression in the brachiocephalic artery, as visualized in vivo using an ultrasound biomicroscope ( P < 0.05). Histological analysis confirmed the reduction of brachiocephalic atherosclerosis and also revealed an increase in collagen content in the statin-treated group ( P < 0.05). Coronary volumetric flow was measured by simultaneous recording of Doppler velocity signals and left coronary artery morphology before and during adenosine infusion. The hyperemic flow in response to adenosine was significantly greater in left coronary artery following 16 wk of rosuvastatin treatment ( P < 0.001), whereas the baseline flow was similar in both groups. In conclusion, rosuvastatin reduced brachiocephalic artery atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-KO mice. Coronary artery function assessed using recently developed in vivo ultrasound-based protocols, also improved.
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- Gut, M, et al.
(författare)
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Brain correlates of right-handedness
- 2007
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Ingår i: Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis. - 0065-1400. ; 67:1, s. 43-51
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