The current authors examined whether mite and cat allergen and bacterial endotoxin levels in dust of the mothers' mattresses were associated with cord blood immunoglobulin (Ig)E (CB-IgE) levels in newborns. Data from 1,332 term and normal weight neonates, from an ongoing birth cohort study, influences of life-style related factors on the immune system and the development of allergies in childhood (LISA), with complete information on exposure to biocontaminants in mattress dust and CB-IgE were analysed. Two thirds of CB-IgE were undetectable (<0.35 kU x L(-1)). Thus, 0.35 and 0.45 kU x L(-1) (4th quartile) were chosen as cut-offs. Nonparametric smoothing (generalised additive models) showed statistically significant confounder-adjusted associations between elevated CB-IgE levels (> or = 0.45 kU x L(-1)) and log-transformed exposures to cat (linear), mite (inverse u-shaped), and endotoxin (u-shaped). After adjustment for covariables, elevated CB-IgE levels (logistic regression using the 1st-4th quartiles of exposure) were positively associated with high cat-allergen exposure and medium exposure to mite allergen, but were inversely associated with exposure to endotoxin. The associations were similar, but somewhat weaker, when 0.35 kU x L(-1) was used as cut-off. These results, showing an association between prenatal allergen and endotoxin exposures and immunoglobulin E production, suggest that the development of foetal immune responses may be affected.
Objectives: To estimate long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollutants on an individual basis and to assess adverse health effects using a combination of air pollution measurement data, data from geographical information systems (GIS) and questionnaire data. Methods: 40 measurement sites in the city of Munich, Germany were selected at which to collect particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) and to measure PM 2.5 absorbance and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). A pool of GIS variables (information about street length, household and population density and land use) was collected for the Munich metropolitan area and was used in multiple linear regression models to predict traffic-related air pollutants. These models were also applied to the birth addresses of two birth cohorts (German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI) and Influence of Life-style factors on the development of the Immune System and Allergies in East and West Germany (LISA)) in the Munich metropolitan area. Associations between air pollution concentrations at birth address and 1-year and 2-year incidences of respiratory symptoms were analysed. Results: The following means for the estimated exposures to PM 2.5 , PM 2.5 absorbance and NO 2 were obtained: 12.8 μg/m 3 , 1.7×10 −5 m −1 and 35.3 μg/m 3 , respectively. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for wheezing, cough without infection, dry cough at night, bronchial asthma, bronchitis and respiratory infections indicated positive associations with traffic-related air pollutants. After controlling for individual confounders, significant associations were found between the pollutant PM 2.5 and sneezing, runny/stuffed nose during the first year of life (OR 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.34) Similar effects were observed for the second year of life. These findings are similar to those from our previous analysis that were restricted to a subcohort in Munich city. The extended study also showed significant effects for sneezing, running/stuffed nose. Additionally, significant associations were found between NO 2 and dry cough at night (or bronchitis) during the first year of life. The variable “living close to major roads” (<50 m), which was not analysed for the previous inner city cohort with birth addresses in the city of Munich, turned out to increase the risk of wheezing and asthmatic/spastic/obstructive bronchitis. Conclusions: Effects on asthma and hay fever are subject to confirmation at older ages, when these outcomes can be more validly assessed.
Einleitung: Die Impulsoszillometrie (IOS) ist ein einfach durchzuführender Lungenfunktionstest, der bislang vor allem in der Pädiatrie angewandt wird. Angesichts der zunehmenden Alterung in der Bevölkerung kann die IOS aber auch bei älteren Patienten mit körperlichen oder geistigen Einschränkungen eine aussagekräftige Ergänzung zur Spirometrie sein. In dieser Studie werden deshalb Referenzwerte für die IOS bei Erwachsenen bis ins hohe Alter etabliert.
In order to identify the management and feeding practices that might have contributed to the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Bavaria, Germany, information from 110 dairy farms on which a case of BSE had been reported was compared with information derived from a questionnaire sent to approximately 10,000 Bavarian farms on which no case of BSE had been reported up to February 2003. Representative information was obtained from 4006 dairy farms. The results indicated that in comparison with these control farms a higher proportion of the BSE farms had also kept pigs or poultry, although the difference was not significant, and that a significantly higher proportion of the BSE farms had fed proprietary concentrates and/or milk replacers to their calves.
The effect of dog ownership during childhood on the development of allergy has been investigated in few studies with conflicting results. The association between dog contact and indoor endotoxin exposure during infancy and the development of allergic sensitisation and atopic disease up to age 6 yrs was investigated. Two ongoing birth cohorts, the German Infant Nutrition Intervention Programme (GINI; n = 1,962) and the Influences of Lifestyle Related Factors on the Human Immune System and Development of Allergies in Children (LISA; n = 1,193), were analysed. In both studies, information on children's contact with dogs and their allergic symptoms and doctor-diagnosed allergic disease were collected during follow-up using questionnaires. Specific immunoglobulin E to common aeroallergens was measured at age 6 yrs. House dust samples were collected at age 3 months and the amount of endotoxin was determined. Dog ownership in early childhood was associated with a significantly lower rate of mixed pollen and inhalant sensitisation but not with dog sensitisation or allergic symptoms and diseases up to age 6 yrs. Regular contact with dogs, without ownership, during childhood was not associated with those health outcomes. No associations were found between house dust endotoxin exposure during infancy and sensitisation outcomes. In conclusion, dog ownership in early childhood protects against the development of inhalant sensitisation and this effect cannot be attributed to the simultaneous exposure to endotoxin.
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