‘Asthma link’ to gestation length – The Press Association


Daily Mail

'Asthma link' to gestation length
The Press Association
Babies born just a few weeks early have a higher risk of poor health, including asthma, than those born later, research suggests. The earlier a baby is born, the worse the impact on their health, but risks are also evident for babies who are 37 to 38
health risk linked to early birthBBC News
Early Birds May Be Too Sick for the WormdailyRx
Babies born just 2 or 3 weeks early at higher risk of poor healthScience Codex

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Beta-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms associated with length of ICU stay in pediatric status asthmaticus.

Beta-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms associated with length of ICU stay in pediatric status asthmaticus.

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011 Sep 8;

Authors: Carroll CL, Sala KA, Zucker AR, Schramm CM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: During severe exacerbations, asthmatic children vary significantly in their response to high-dose continuous ?(2) -adrenergic receptor (ADR?(2) ) agonist therapy. Genetic polymorphisms have been identified within the ADR?(2) that may be functionally relevant, but few studies have been performed in this population. Our hypothesis was that genotypic differences are associated with magnitude of response to ADR?(2) agonist treatment during severe asthma exacerbations in children. METHODS: Children aged 2-18 years admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit) with a severe asthma exacerbation between 2006 and 2008 were eligible. Genotyping of the ADR?(2) was performed. RESULTS: Eighty-nine children consented and were enrolled. Despite similar clinical asthma scores on admission, children with the Gly(16) Gly genotype at amino acid position 16 had significantly shorter ICU length of stay (LOS) and hospital LOS, compared to children with Arg(16) Arg and Arg(16) Gly genotypes. Children with either the Gln(27) Glu or Glu(27) Glu genotype at amino acid position 27 also had significantly shorter ICU LOS and hospital LOS compared to children with the Gln(27) Gln genotype. The Arg(16) Gly-Gln(27) Gln haplotype was associated with the longest ICU LOS, but this was not statistically different from other haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of children with severe asthma exacerbations, ADR?(2) polymorphisms were associated with responses to therapy. Knowledge of the genetic profile of children with asthma may allow for targeted therapy during acute exacerbations. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 21905268 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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