ABSTRACT
Background: Indoor air significantly impacts the incidence of rhinitis among residents of urban agglomerations. Objective: To assess the impact of indoor air pollution on rhinitis. Methods: Data were collected by using an European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) standardized questionnaires (N = 18,617), and medical examinations were carried out (N = 4783) in selected Polish regions. For statistical analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval to detect factors associated with rhinitis. The Wald test was performed to assess the significance of those factors. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The most important factors associated with allergic rhinitis declared by adults, ages 2044 years were the following: the age of the buildings (OR 1.34), presence of central heating system (OR 1.19), gas furnace used to heat the house (OR 1.19), solid-fuel stove (OR 1.92), and bottled-gas stove (OR 1.66). More frequent declarations of nonallergic rhinitis in the study group were associated with the use of a central heating system (children ages 67 years: OR 1.21; children ages 1314 years: OR 1.22; and adults, ages 2044 years: OR 1.27), solid-fuel stove (children ages 67 years: OR 2.95; children ages 1314 years: OR 2.86; adults, ages 2044 years: OR 2.02), and bottled-gas stove (children ages 67 years: OR 1.89; children ages 1314 years: OR 1.88; adults, ages 2044 years: OR 2.06). Diagnosed seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults, ages 2044 years was associated with the year when the building was constructed (19701990) (OR 1.93) and the presence of a central heating system (OR 1.85). The year of construction of a building (19461969) (OR 4.84) as well as the use of central heating (OR 1.79) were causes of allergies to molds in the group of children ages 67 years, whereas sensitization to Dermatophagoides. pteronyssinus (OR 1.62) and Dermatophagoides farinae (OR 1.78) in children ages 67-years was associated with the presence of a central heating system. In children ages 1314 years, the use of a solid-fuel stove was a cause of sensitization to D. farinae (OR 1.62). Conclusion: The age of the building, home heating systems, and pollution emitted by cooking appliances have a significant impact on the incidence of rhinitis. The highlights of the study included the following: (1) the age and condition of the building, the use of heating devices, stoves, and also mold allergens and house-dust mites contributed to a higher incidence of rhinitis, mainly among adults, ages 2044 years; (2) gas-storage tanks and solid fuels contribute to rhinitis in the group of children ages 67 years and children ages 1314 years.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution, Indoor/adverse effects , Rhinitis/epidemiology , Rhinitis/etiology , Urban Health , Urban Population , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Odds Ratio , Poland/epidemiology , Prevalence , Public Health Surveillance , Rhinitis/diagnosis , Risk Factors , Skin Tests , Young AdultABSTRACT
The paper describes the investigations of nitride precipitates in a spearhead and a sword found in the territory of Poland, in cremation graveyards of the Przeworsk Culture, dated to the Roman Period. Three different techniques of the examination of nitride precipitates were employed: optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer) and transmission electron microscope. Two types of precipitates have been observed, and their plate-like shape was demonstrated. The large precipitate has been confirmed to be gamma'-Fe(4)N, whereas the small one has been identified as alpha''-Fe(16)N(2). The origin of nitride precipitates in archaeological iron artefacts from Poland is probably a result of the manufacturing process or cremation as part of burial rites. An examination of available iron artefacts indicates that nitride precipitates (have only limited effect on mechanical properties) influence the hardness of metal only to a very limited degree.
Subject(s)
Archaeology , Burial , Cremation , Iron/chemistry , Humans , PolandABSTRACT
The microstructures of the Fe-Cu-based alloys melt-spun from various temperatures are presented. Two compositions, with different Fe and Cu content, revealing liquid miscibility gap, were studied. Nonuniform, large-elongated areas were observed for lower melt-spinning temperatures, indicating liquid/liquid phase separation in the crucible before cooling. An increase of the melt ejection temperature, followed by rapid cooling, brought about precipitation process within homogeneous melt. Studies of the system with higher Fe content proved amorphous nature of the matrix and crystalline structure of the primary formed Cu-rich precipitates. Moreover, generations of the secondary spherical particles, precipitated within the previously formed Cu-rich melt, were observed. The microstructure of the melt-spun alloy with a higher Cu content, on the other hand, consisted of the Fe-rich amorphous spherical particles formed during cooling of the Cu-rich liquid. The precipitation of the secondary Cu-rich particles in the primary formed Fe-rich was also observed.
ABSTRACT
The crystallization behaviour of Fe(72)Si(9.1)B(14.8)Cr(2.2)C(1.9) alloy was studied. Three forms of the examined alloy were studied: water-atomized powder, as-spun ribbon and fully crystallized ribbon. Transmission electron microscopy studies of the examined alloy in the form of powder revealed partial crystallization of Fe(2)B. The as-spun ribbon was found to be fully amorphous, and no evidence of any crystalline phases was detected. Formation of metastable phases in the fully devitrificated ribbon was observed. The examined alloy, heated to above its crystallization temperature, consisted of alpha-Fe(3)(Si), Fe(23)(C,B)(6), Fe(3)B and Fe(2)B crystalline phases.
Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity/complications , Mitosporic Fungi , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to assess efficacy and safety of 5 mg loratadine/120 mg pseudoephedrine combination drug in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. 30 patients allergic to grass pollen were treated with the new drug (Clarinase) twice a day in 15-day study during grass pollen seasonal. Nasal an non-nasal symptoms were evaluated for efficacy. Loratadine/pseudoephedrine combination effected a significant decrease in total symptoms score as well as individual evaluated symptoms score: nasal stuffiness, itching and discharge, sneezing, eye itching, tearing and redness of the eyes. The treatments was well tolerated. No serious side effects were noticed. The incidence of mild sedation, dry mouth, insomnia and nervousness was only 3 to 7 percent. 5 mg loratadine plus 120 mg pseudoephedrine was safe and effective in relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Subject(s)
Anti-Allergic Agents/therapeutic use , Ephedrine/therapeutic use , Loratadine/therapeutic use , Nasal Decongestants/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Drug Combinations , Ephedrine/adverse effects , Humans , Loratadine/adverse effects , Middle Aged , Nasal Decongestants/adverse effects , Pseudoephedrine , Statistics, Nonparametric , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
In a series of 8 concentrates, 18 roughages and 13 wet feedstuffs the interactions between different dietary fibre fractions were studied. In comparison to other analytical methods the crude fibre method (XF) did not allow a satisfactory estimation of the dietary fibre content (DF) of the experimental feedstuffs. In comparison to the NDF and the dietary fibre content and depending on the feedstuff, XF content was lowered by 2 to 3 times and 2 to 4 times, respectively. There was a surprisingly high correspondence between the contents of NDF and unsoluble dietary fibre for almost all feedstuffs. Highly significant statistical coherences could be observed between the different fibre fractions. It can be expected, that these correlations do not always follow a linear relationship, as could be observed in the regressions equations for NDF to DF and XF to ADF.