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- Thacher, Jesse D., et al.
(author)
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Occupational noise exposure and risk of incident stroke: a pooled study of five Scandinavian cohorts
- 2022
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In: OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE. - : BMJ. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 79:9, s. 594-601
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives To investigate the association between occupational noise exposure and stroke incidence in a pooled study of five Scandinavian cohorts (NordSOUND). Methods We pooled and harmonised data from five Scandinavian cohorts resulting in 78 389 participants. We obtained job data from national registries or questionnaires and recoded these to match a job-exposure matrix developed in Sweden, which specified the annual average daily noise exposure in five exposure classes (L-Aeq8h): <70, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, >= 85 dB(A). We identified residential address history and estimated 1-year average road traffic noise at baseline. Using national patient and mortality registers, we identified 7777 stroke cases with a median follow-up of 20.2 years. Analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for individual and area-level potential confounders. Results Exposure to occupational noise at baseline was not associated with overall stroke in the fully adjusted models. For ischaemic stroke, occupational noise was associated with HRs (95% CI) of 1.08 (0.98 to 1.20), 1.09 (0.97 to 1.24) and 1.06 (0.92 to 1.21) in the 75-79, 80-84 and >= 85 dB(A) exposure groups, compared with <70 dB(A), respectively. In subanalyses using time-varying occupational noise exposure, we observed an indication of higher stroke risk among the most exposed (>= 85 dB(A)), particularly when restricting analyses to people exposed to occupational noise within the last year (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.63). Conclusions We found no association between occupational noise and risk of overall stroke after adjustment for confounders. However, the non-significantly increased risk of ischaemic stroke warrants further investigation.
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- Tiittanen, M, et al.
(author)
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Infiltration of forkhead box P3-expressing cells in small intestinal mucosa in coeliac disease but not in type 1 diabetes
- 2008
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In: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0009-9104 .- 1365-2249. ; 152:3, s. 498-507
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Because the role of regulatory T cells in the intestinal inflammation is unknown in coeliac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), the expression of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), CD25, transforming growth factor-β, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15 and IL-18 was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the small intestinal biopsies from paediatric patients with active or potential CD, T1D and control patients. The numbers of FoxP3- and CD25-expressing cells were studied with immunohistochemistry. Enhanced intestinal expressions of FoxP3, IL-10 and IFN-γ mRNAs were found in active CD when compared with controls (P-values < 0.001, 0.004, <0.001). In potential CD, only the expression of IFN-γ mRNA was increased. The numbers of FoxP3-expressing cells were higher in active and potential CD (P < 0.001, P = 0.05), and the ratio of FoxP3 mRNA to the number of FoxP3-positive cells was decreased in potential CD when compared with controls (P = 0.007). The ratio of IFN-γ to FoxP3-specific mRNA was increased in active and potential CD (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002). Patients with T1D had no changes in regulatory T cell markers, but showed increased expression of IL-18 mRNA. The impaired up-regulation of FoxP3 transcripts despite the infiltration of FoxP3-positive cells in potential CD may contribute to the persistence of inflammation. The increased ratio of IFN-γ to FoxP3 mRNA in active and potential CD suggests an imbalance between regulatory and effector mechanisms. The increased intestinal expression of IL-18 mRNA in patients with T1D adds evidence in favour of the hypothesis that T1D is associated with derangements in the gut immune system. © 2008 The Author(s).
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- Allaouat, S, et al.
(author)
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Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter originating from traffic and residential wood combustion and the prevalence of depression
- 2021
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In: Journal of epidemiology and community health. - : BMJ. - 1470-2738 .- 0143-005X. ; 75:11, s. 1111-1116
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Air pollution has been suggested to be associated with depression. However, current evidence is conflicting, and no study has considered different sources of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 µm (PM2.5). We evaluated the associations of long-term exposure to PM2.5 from road traffic and residential wood combustion with the prevalence of depression in the Helsinki region, Finland.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis based on the Helsinki Capital Region Environmental Health Survey 2015–2016 (N=5895). Modelled long-term outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 were evaluated using high-resolution emission and dispersion modelling on an urban scale and linked to the home addresses of study participants. The outcome was self-reported doctor-diagnosed or treated depression. We applied logistic regression and calculated the OR for 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, with 95% CI. Models were adjusted for potential confounders, including traffic noise and urban green space.ResultsOf the participants, 377 reported to have been diagnosed or treated for depression by a doctor. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 from road traffic (OR=1.23, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.73; n=5895) or residential wood combustion (OR=0.78, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.41; n=5895) was not associated with the prevalence of depression. The estimates for PM2.5 from road traffic were elevated, but statistically non-significant, for non-smokers (OR=1.38, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.01; n=4716).ConclusionsWe found no convincing evidence of an effect of long-term exposure to PM2.5 from road traffic or residential wood combustion on depression.
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- Vaarala, Outi, 1962-, et al.
(author)
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Insulin treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes induces upregulation of regulatory T-cell markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with insulin in vitro
- 2006
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In: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 55:12, s. 3446-3454
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with type 1 diabetes are treated with daily injections of human insulin, an autoantigen expressed in thymus. Natural CD4+CD25high regulatory T-cells are derived from thymus, and accordingly human insulin-specific regulatory T-cells should exist. We had a chance to study peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from children with type 1 diabetes both before and after starting insulin treatment, and thus we could analyze the effects of insulin treatment on regulatory T-cells in children with type 1 diabetes. PBMCs were stimulated for 72 h with bovine/human insulin. The mRNA expression of regulatory T-cell markers (transforming growth factor-β, Foxp3, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 [CTLA-4], and inducible co-stimulator [ICOS]) or cytokines (γ-interferon [IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-5, IL-4) was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. The secretion of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 was also studied. The expression of Foxp3, CTLA-4, and ICOS mRNAs in PBMCs stimulated with bovine or human insulin was higher in patients on insulin treatment than in patients studied before starting insulin treatment. The insulin-induced Foxp3 protein expression in CD4+CD25 high cells was detectable in flow cytometry. No differences were seen in cytokine activation between the patient groups. Insulin stimulation in vitro induced increased expression of regulatory T-cell markers, Foxp3, CTLA-4, and ICOS only in patients treated with insulin, suggesting that treatment with human insulin activates insulin-specific regulatory T-cells in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. This effect of the exogenous autoantigen could explain the difficulties to detect in vitro T-cell proliferation responses to insulin in newly diagnosed patients. Furthermore, autoantigen treatment-induced activation of regulatory T-cells may contribute to the clinical remission of the disease. © 2006 by the American Diabetes Association.
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- Analitis, A, et al.
(author)
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Effects of cold weather on mortality : results from 15 European cities within the PHEWE project.
- 2008
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In: American journal of epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1476-6256 .- 0002-9262. ; 168:12, s. 1397-408
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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- Fuks, Kateryna B., et al.
(author)
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Arterial blood pressure and long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution : an analysis in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE)
- 2014
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In: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 122:9, s. 896-905
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to air pollution is hypothesized to elevate arterial blood pressure (BP). The existing evidence is scarce and country-specific. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the cross-sectional association of long-term traffic-related air pollution with BP and prevalent hypertension in European populations. METHODS: Fifteen population-based cohorts, participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE), were analysed. Residential exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides was modelled with land use regression using a uniform protocol. Traffic exposure was assessed with traffic indicator variables. We analysed systolic and diastolic BP in participants medicated and non-medicated with BP lowering medication (BPLM) separately, adjusting for personal and area-level risk factors and environmental noise. Prevalent hypertension was defined as ≥ 140 mmHg systolic, or ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic BP, or intake of BPLM. We combined cohort-specific results using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: In the main meta-analysis of 113,926 participants, traffic load on major roads within 100 m of the residence was associated with increased systolic and diastolic BP in non-medicated participants (0.35 mmHg [95% CI: 0.02-0.68] and 0.22 mmHg [95% CI: 0.04-0.40] per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day, respectively). The estimated odds ratio for prevalent hypertension was 1.05 [95% CI: 0.99-1.11] per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day. Modelled air pollutants and BP were not clearly associated. CONCLUSIONS: In this first comprehensive meta-analysis of European population-based cohorts we observed a weak positive association of high residential traffic exposure with BP in non-medicated participants, and an elevated OR for prevalent hypertension. The relationship of modelled air pollutants with BP was inconsistent.
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