Association between chemical components of PM2.5 and children's primary care night-time visits due to asthma attacks: A case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Few papers have examined the association between the chemical components of PM2.5 and health effects. The existence of an association is now under discussion. METHODS: This case-crossover study aimed to examine the association between the chemical components of PM2.5 and night-time primary care visits (PCVs) due to asthma attacks. The subjects were 1251 children aged 0-14 years who received medical care for asthma at a municipal emergency clinic. We measured daily average concentrations of hydrogen ion, sulfate ion, nitrate ion and water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs), which are components of PM2.5. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of PCVs per unit increment (inter quartile ranges) in each chemical component of PM2.5 for the subgroups of warmer months and colder months separately. RESULTS: No association was seen between PCVs and PM2.5 mass concentrations the day before the PCVs in either warmer or colder months. In the warmer months, an association was seen with the concentrations of WSOCs and hydrogen ion the day before the PCVs (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.00-1.76, OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.36, respectively). Furthermore, a negative association was seen between sulfate ion and PCVs (OR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.74-0.98). No associations were observed in the colder months. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a positive association between PCVs and certain concentrations of WSOCs and hydrogen ions in warmer months. In contrast, sulfate ion showed a negative association.

Tongue Protrusion Strength in Arousal State Is Predictive of the Airway Patency in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Contraction of the genioglossus affects either tongue protrusion strength or dilating forces of the upper airway. The upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is thought to collapse during sleep, at least in part because of a sleep related reduction in genioglossus muscle activity. Thus, although tongue protrusion strength by genioglossus activity during sleep contributes to the maintenance of airway patency in patients with OSA, the relationship between tongue protrusion strength in the arousal state and obstructive sleep apnea has not been fully elucidated. Conventional method of tongue protrusion strength cannot be used to evaluate in edentulous subjects and/or subjects with the decreased biting force. In this study, employing a novel measurement method that does not require biting a transducer, we investigated relationships between the tongue protrusion strength and polysomnographic findings. We enrolled twenty normal subjects and 26 subjects with OSA. All subjects completed the measurement of tongue protrusion strength. Each subject with OSA was evaluated by full polysomnography. The degree of tongue protrusion strength was assessed by maximum voluntary contraction against the tongue depressor connected with a strain gauge dynamometer. The tongue protrusion strength was negatively correlated with obstructive apnea time, apnea index (AI) and the percent of sleep stage 2 (r = -0.61, p < 0.0001, r = -0.41 p = 0.03 and r = -0.39 p = 0.04, respectively). Tongue protrusion strength measured in the arousal state is predictive of the airway patency during sleep in OSA.

[A clinical study of admitted the review of cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis].

BACKGROUND: Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is characterized by anaphylactic symptoms after eating certain foods, followed by exercise. As we examine more patients who have pollinosis, we have more opportunities to see allergic disease such as FDEIA, OAS, and so on. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of six cases, diagnosed FDEIA for this three years. RESULTS: Of six cases, the ages are 8 to 47 years old, and the trigger allergens were wheat, shrimp, and grapefruit. The trigger exercises were running, volleyball, as well as taking a bath. In four cases, the patients had history of allergic disease such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and so on. In two cases of wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, the IgE levels for omega5-gliadin (a major wheat allergen) in a RAST were positive. CONCLUSION: Of six cases diagnosed FDEIA, the trigger allergens were wheat, shrimp, and grapefruit. In cases of wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, the IgE levels for omega5-gliadin in a RAST were positive. After the food allergen has been identified, we advised strict restrictions on ingestion of trigger allergens in the case of shrimp and grapefruit, and on any exercise after eating foods containing wheat flour in the case of wheat.