| 131. |
- Svanes, Øistein, et al.
(author)
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Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction
- 2018
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In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 197:9, s. 1157-1163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Cleaning tasks may imply exposure to chemical agents with potential harmful effects to the respiratory system, and increased risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms among professional cleaners and in persons cleaning at home has been reported. Long-term consequences of cleaning agents on respiratory health are, however, not well described.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate long-term effects of occupational cleaning and cleaning at home on lung function decline and airway obstruction.Methods: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigated a multicenter population-based cohort at three time points over 20 years. A total of 6,235 participants with at least one lung function measurement from 22 study centers, who in ECRHS II responded to questionnaire modules concerning cleaning activities between ECRHS I and ECRHS II, were included. The data were analyzed with mixed linear models adjusting for potential confounders.Measurements and Main Results: As compared with women not engaged in cleaning (ΔFEV1 = −18.5 ml/yr), FEV1 declined more rapidly in women responsible for cleaning at home (−22.1; P = 0.01) and occupational cleaners (−22.4; P = 0.03). The same was found for decline in FVC (ΔFVC = −8.8 ml/yr; −13.1, P = 0.02; and −15.9, P = 0.002; respectively). Both cleaning sprays and other cleaning agents were associated with accelerated FEV1 decline (−22.0, P = 0.04; and −22.9, P = 0.004; respectively). Cleaning was not significantly associated with lung function decline in men or with FEV1/FVC decline or airway obstruction.Conclusions: Women cleaning at home or working as occupational cleaners had accelerated decline in lung function, suggesting that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health.
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| 132. |
- Tagesson, Torbern, et al.
(author)
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Ecosystem properties of semiarid savanna grassland in West Africa and its relationship with environmental variability
- 2015
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In: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 21:1, s. 250-264
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Dahra field site in Senegal, West Africa, was established in 2002 to monitor ecosystem properties of semiarid savanna grassland and their responses to climatic and environmental change. This article describes the environment and the ecosystem properties of the site using a unique set of in situ data. The studied variables include hydroclimatic variables, species composition, albedo, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), hyperspectral characteristics (350-1800nm), surface reflectance anisotropy, brightness temperature, fraction of absorbed photosynthetic active radiation (FAPAR), biomass, vegetation water content, and land-atmosphere exchanges of carbon (NEE) and energy. The Dahra field site experiences a typical Sahelian climate and is covered by coexisting trees (similar to 3% canopy cover) and grass species, characterizing large parts of the Sahel. This makes the site suitable for investigating relationships between ecosystem properties and hydroclimatic variables for semiarid savanna ecosystems of the region. There were strong interannual, seasonal and diurnal dynamics in NEE, with high values of similar to-7.5g Cm(-2)day(-1) during the peak of the growing season. We found neither browning nor greening NDVI trends from 2002 to 2012. Interannual variation in species composition was strongly related to rainfall distribution. NDVI and FAPAR were strongly related to species composition, especially for years dominated by the species Zornia glochidiata. This influence was not observed in interannual variation in biomass and vegetation productivity, thus challenging dryland productivity models based on remote sensing. Surface reflectance anisotropy (350-1800nm) at the peak of the growing season varied strongly depending on wavelength and viewing angle thereby having implications for the design of remotely sensed spectral vegetation indices covering different wavelength regions. The presented time series of in situ data have great potential for dryland dynamics studies, global climate change related research and evaluation and parameterization of remote sensing products and dynamic vegetation models.
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| 133. |
- Tarp, Julie Bjerre, et al.
(author)
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Subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 277, s. 97-103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Survival in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) has improved dramatically. The result is an ageing population with risk of acquired heart disease. Previous small uncontrolled studies suggested that these patients are protected against the development of atherosclerosis. To test this hypothesis, we sought to determine the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in a larger population of patients with CCHD. Method: We compared the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in adult CCHD patients from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Australia, with that in age-, sex-, smoking status-, and body mass index matched controls. Coronary artery atherosclerosis was assessed on computed tomography with coronary artery calcification (CAC) score. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined by CAC-score > 0. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was evaluated using ultrasound by measuring carotid plaque thickness (cPT-max) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Lipid status was evaluated as an important atherosclerotic risk factor. Results: Seventy-four patients with CCHD (57% women, median age 49.5 years) and 74 matched controls (57% women, median age 50.0 years) were included. There were no differences between the groups in: CAC-score > 0 (21% vs. 19%, respectively; p = 0.8), carotid plaques (19% vs. 9%, respectively; p = 0.1), cPT-max (2.3 mm vs. 2.8 mm, respectively; p = 0.1) or CIMT (0.61 mm vs. 0.61 mm, respectively; p = 0.98). And further no significant differences in lipoprotein concentrations measured by ultracentrifugation. Conclusion: Young adults with CCHD have similar cardiovascular risk factor profiles and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, compared with controls. Given their increasing life expectancies, athero-preventive strategies should be an important part of their clinical management.
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| 134. |
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| 135. |
- Timm, Signe, et al.
(author)
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Asthma and selective migration from farming environments in a three-generation cohort study
- 2019
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In: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 34:6, s. 601-609
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Individuals raised on a farm appear to have less asthma than individual raised elsewhere. However, selective migration might contribute to this as may also the suggested protection from farm environment. This study investigated if parents with asthma are less likely to raise their children on a farm. This study involved three generations: 6045 participants in ECRHS/RHINE cohorts (born 1945-1973, denoted G1), their 10,121 parents (denoted G0) and their 8260 offspring participating in RHINESSA (born 1963-1998, denoted G2). G2-offspring provided information on parents not participating in ECRHS/RHINE. Asthma status and place of upbringing for all three generations were reported in questionnaires by G1 in 2010-2012 and by G2 in 2013-2016. Binary regressions with farm upbringing as outcome were performed to explore associations between parental asthma and offspring farm upbringing in G0-G1 and G1-G2. Having at least one parent with asthma was not associated with offspring farm upbringing, either in G1-G2 (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.81-1.52) or in G0-G1 (RR 0.99, 0.85-1.15). G1 parents with asthma born in a city tended to move and raise their G2 offspring on a farm (RR 2.00, 1.12-3.55), while G1 parents with asthma born on a farm were less likely to raise their G2 offspring on a farm (RR 0.34, 0.11-1.06). This pattern was not observed in analyses of G0-G1. This study suggests that the protective effect from farm upbringing on subsequent asthma development could not be explained by selective migration. Intriguingly, asthmatic parents appeared to change environment when having children.
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| 136. |
- Timm, S., et al.
(author)
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Does parental farm upbringing influence the risk of asthma in offspring? A three-generation study
- 2020
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In: International journal of epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0300-5771 .- 1464-3685. ; 49:6, s. 1874-1882
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: A farm upbringing has been associated with lower risk of asthma and methylation of asthma-related genes. As such, a farm upbringing has the potential to transfer asthma risk across generations, but this has never been investigated. We aimed to study the generational effects from a parental farm upbringing on offspring asthma. Methods: Our study involved three generations: 5759 participants from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) study (born 1945-1971, denoted G1), their 9991 parents (GO) and their 8260 offspring (G2) participating in RHINESSA (Respiratory Health In Northern Europe, Spain and Australia). Questionnaire data were collected on GO and G1 from G1 in 2010 and on G2 from themselves in 2013. The parental/grandparental place of upbringing was categorized: (i) both parents from farm; (ii) mother from farm, father from village/city; (iii) father from farm, mother from village/city; (iv) both parents from village or one parent from village and one from city; (v) both parents from city (reference group). Grandparental upbringing was equivalently categorized. Offspring asthma was self-reported and data were analysed using Cox-regression models with G2 age as the time scale. Results: A parental farm upbringing was not associated with offspring asthma when compared with city upbringing [hazard ratio (HR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-1.69]. Findings remained similar when stratified by offspring upbringing and asthma phenotypes. Quantitative bias analyses showed similar estimates for alternative data sources. A grandparental farm upbringing was not associated with offspring asthma in either the maternal (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.67-1.65) or paternal line (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.62-1.68). Conclusions: This multigenerational analysis suggests no evidence of an association between parental/grandparental farm upbringing and offspring asthma.
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| 137. |
- Timm, Signe, et al.
(author)
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Does parental or grandparental farm upbringing influence risk of asthma in offspring?
- 2020
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In: European Respiratory Journal. - : ERS Publications. - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 56:Suppl 64
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Farm upbringing has been associated with lower risk of asthma, and also with methylation of asthma-related genes. As such, farm upbringing has the potential to transfer less asthma risk across generations. We aimed to study generational effects from parental farm upbringing on offspring asthma.Methods: Our study involved three generations: 5,759 participants from the ECRHS study (born 1945-71, denoted G1), their 9,991 parents (G0) and their 8,260 offspring (G2) participating in RHINESSA. Questionnaire data on upbringing and asthma were available for all generations; direct information for G1 and G2, and via G2 for G0. Parental and grandparental place of upbringing was categorised as (1) both parents from farm (2) mother from farm, father from village/city (3) father from farm, mother from village/city (4) both parents from village or one parent from village and one from city (5) both parents from city (ref.). Data was analysed in Cox regression with G2 age as time scale.Results: Parental farm upbringing was not related to offspring asthma when compared to city upbringing (HR 1.12, 95 % CI 0.74-1.69) Findings remained similar when stratified by offspring upbringing and asthma phenotypes. Quantitative bias analyses showed similar estimates for alternative data sources. Grandparental farm upbringing was not associated with offspring asthma in either the maternal (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.67-1.65) or paternal line (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.62-1.68).Conclusion: This multi-generation analysis suggests no evidence of an association between parental or grandparental farm upbringing and offspring asthma.
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| 138. |
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| 139. |
- Timm, S., et al.
(author)
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Place of upbringing in early childhood as related to inflammatory bowel diseases in adulthood: a population-based cohort study in Northern Europe
- 2014
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In: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 29:6, s. 429-437
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, has increased rapidly during the twentieth century, but the aetiology is still poorly understood. Impaired immunological competence due to decreasing biodiversity and altered microbial stimulation is a suggested explanation. Objective Place of upbringing was used as a proxy for the level and diversity of microbial stimulation to investigate the effects on the prevalence of IBD in adulthood. Methods Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III is a postal follow-up questionnaire of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) cohorts established in 1989-1992. The study population was 10,864 subjects born 1945-1971 in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia, who responded to questionnaires in 2000-2002 and 2010-2012. Data were analysed in logistic and Cox regression models taking age, sex, smoking and body mass index into consideration. Results Being born and raised on a livestock farm the first 5 years of life was associated with a lower risk of IBD compared to city living in logistic (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.31; 0.94) and Cox regression models (HR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.31; 0.98). Random-effect meta-analysis did not identify geographical difference in this association. Furthermore, there was a significant trend comparing livestock farm living, village and city living (p < 0.01). Sub-analyses showed that the protective effect was only present among subjects born after 1952 (OR 0.25, 95 % CI 0.11; 0.61). Conclusion This study suggests a protective effect from livestock farm living in early childhood on the occurrence of IBD in adulthood, however only among subjects born after 1952. We speculate that lower microbial diversity is an explanation for the findings.
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| 140. |
- Timm, Signe, et al.
(author)
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The Urban-Rural Gradient In Asthma : A Population-Based Study in Northern Europe
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - Basel, Switzerland : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The early life environment appears to have a persistent impact on asthma risk. We hypothesize that environmental factors related to rural life mediate lower asthma prevalence in rural populations, and aimed to investigate an urban-rural gradient, assessed by place of upbringing, for asthma. The population-based Respiratory Health In Northern Europe (RHINE) study includes subjects from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia born 1945-1973. The present analysis encompasses questionnaire data on 11,123 RHINE subjects. Six categories of place of upbringing were defined: farm with livestock, farm without livestock, village in rural area, small town, city suburb and inner city. The association of place of upbringing with asthma onset was analysed with Cox regression adjusted for relevant confounders. Subjects growing up on livestock farms had less asthma (8%) than subjects growing up in inner cities (11%) (hazard ratio 0.72 95% CI 0.57-0.91), and a significant urban-rural gradient was observed across six urbanisation levels (p = 0.02). An urban-rural gradient was only evident among women, smokers and for late-onset asthma. Analyses on wheeze and place of upbringing revealed similar results. In conclusion, this study suggests a protective effect of livestock farm upbringing on asthma development and an urban-rural gradient in a Northern European population.
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