Yes, asthma is over-diagnosed, but it is still a matter of life or death – The Guardian


The Guardian

Yes, asthma is over-diagnosed, but it is still a matter of life or death
The Guardian
Asthma is being over-diagnosed and trivialised, say two leading specialists. And this is a major problem, because they say doling inhalers out like Smarties means that the small subset of people who have potentially life-threatening asthma may be

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Reactive Oxygen Species Generation Linked to Sources of Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Cardiorespiratory Effects.

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Reactive Oxygen Species Generation Linked to Sources of Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Cardiorespiratory Effects.

Environ Sci Technol. 2015 Oct 12;

Authors: Bates JT, Weber RJ, Abrams J, Verma V, Fang T, Klein M, Strickland M, Sarnat SE, Chang HH, Mulholland JA, Tolbert PE, Russell AG

Abstract
Exposure to atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality, but the mechanisms are not well understood. We assess the hypothesis that PM2.5 induces oxidative stress in the body via catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A dithiothreitol (DTT) assay was used to measure the ROS-generation potential of water-soluble PM2.5. Source apportionment on ambient (Atlanta, GA) PM2.5 was performed using the Chemical Mass Balance Method with ensemble-averaged source impact profiles. Linear regression modeling was used to relate PM2.5 emissions sources to ROS-generation potential and to estimate historical levels of DTT activity for use in an epidemiologic analysis for the period 1998-2009. Light-duty gasoline vehicles (LDGV) exhibited the highest intrinsic DTT activity, followed by biomass burning (BURN) and heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV) (0.11 ± 0.02, 0.069 ± 0.02, and 0.052 ± 0.01 nmol min-1 ?g-1source, respectively). BURN contributed the largest fraction to total DTT activity over the study period, followed by LDGV and HDDV (45%, 20% and 14%, respectively). DTT activity was more strongly associated with emergency department visits for asthma/wheezing and congestive heart failure than PM2.5. This work provides further epidemiologic evidence of a biologically plausible mechanism, that of oxidative stress, for associations of adverse health outcomes with PM2.5 mass, and supports continued assessment of the utility of the DTT activity assay.biological plausibility to associations of adverse health outcomes with PM2.5 mass, supporting oxidative stress as a mechanism.

PMID: 26457347 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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The Influence of Particulate Matter on Respiratory Morbidity and Mortality in Children and Infants.

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The Influence of Particulate Matter on Respiratory Morbidity and Mortality in Children and Infants.

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014 Nov 9;

Authors: Jakubiak-Lasocka J, Lasocki J, Badyda AJ

Abstract
Air pollution is the most important environmental health risk leading to premature mortality, respiratory and other health problems. The aim of this study was to quantify its impact on infants and children in Warsaw (Poland), following the principles of Health Impact Assessment method. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) was considered as the indicator of air pollution. Exposure-response functions between air pollution and health impacts were employed based on the literature. According to the calculations, around 5,201 asthma symptoms and 234 hospital respiratory admissions were caused annually due to air pollution. Hospitalizations due to cardiovascular problems related to air pollution amounted to 13. The mortality among infants and children is relatively low and occurs mostly in the postneonatal period. Nonetheless, approx. 5 mortality cases were assessed to be air pollution-attributable. The study demonstrates a significant impact of air pollution on infants and children, which is manifested primarily as a range of respiratory problems.

PMID: 25381559 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Asthma – a family matter – recognising the triggers and controlling the symptoms – ABC Online (blog)

Asthma – a family matter – recognising the triggers and controlling the symptoms
ABC Online (blog)
Her son Xavier is an asthma sufferer and Emma told Penny Terry those moments can be very frightening for her and her son. Download the audio file – Emma. Lorraine is a great grandmother and child carer, When Penny Terry met her, Lorraine was nursing 4

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Asthma – a family matter – recognising the triggers and symptoms – ABC Online (blog)

Asthma – a family matter – recognising the triggers and symptoms
ABC Online (blog)
Her son Xavier is an asthma sufferer and Emma told Penny Terry those moments can be very frightening for her and her son. Download the audio file – Emma. Lorraine is a great grandmother and child carer, When Penny Terry met her, Lorraine was nursing 4

View full post on asthma – Google News

Desso Highlights the Danger of Particulate Matter at World Asthma Day 2012 – MarketWatch (press release)

Desso Highlights the Danger of Particulate Matter at World Asthma Day 2012
MarketWatch (press release)
On 1 May 2012 – World Asthma Day – the European carpet manufacturer Desso will be highlighting a global problem: the poor indoor air quality in many homes and public buildings. An excessive quantity of dust particles and particulate matter in indoor

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Particulate Matter Concentrations in Residences: An Intervention Study Evaluating Stand-Alone Filters and Air Conditioners.

Particulate Matter Concentrations in Residences: An Intervention Study Evaluating Stand-Alone Filters and Air Conditioners.

Indoor Air. 2011 Dec 7;

Authors: Batterman S, Du L, Mentz G, Mukherjee B, Parker E, Godwin C, Chin JY, O’Toole A, Robins T, Rowe Z, Lewis T

Abstract
This study, a randomized controlled trial, evaluated the effectiveness of free-standing air filters and window air conditioners (ACs) in 126 low income households of children with asthma. Households were randomized into a control group, a group receiving a free-standing HEPA filter placed in the child’s sleeping area, and a group receiving the filter and a window-mounted AC. IAQ was monitored for week-long periods over three to four seasons. High concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide were frequently seen. When IAQ was monitored, filters reduced PM levels in the child’s bedroom by an average of 50%. Filter use varied greatly among households and declined over time, e.g., during weeks when pollutants were monitored, filter use was initially high, averaging 84 ± 27%, but dropped to 63 ± 33% in subsequent seasons. In months when households were not visited, use averaged only 34 ± 30%. Filter effectiveness did not vary in homes with central or room ACs. The study shows that measurements over multiple seasons are needed to characterize air quality and filter performance. The effectiveness of interventions using free-standing air filters depends on occupant behavior, and strategies to ensure filter use should be an integral part of interventions.

PMID: 22145709 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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