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Biomedical subjects

P Reitmeir

Publications and source records attributed to P Reitmeir.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Bronchial hyperreactivity and history of wheezing in children.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this analysis was to determine the relationship between wheezing at different age groups in children and the prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity at the age of 10. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Leipzig and the region around Halle in Germany. Of 3105 10-year-old children, 2658 questionnaires (85.6%) were returned. In addition 2279 (73.4%) pulmonary function tests were performed before and after cold air challenge. 658 children (24.8%) had recurrent wheezing during their lifetime. In 579 children the individual time course could be evaluated (46 children with and 533 without a physician-confirmed diagnosis of asthma). Wheezing began most frequently in the 1st year of life (44.1% of all wheezing children) with the highest annual prevalence in the 3rd year (71.0% of all wheezing children). Wheezing which started in the first 2 years of life, had disappeared in most of the children by the age of 10. However, if wheezing began later than the 3rd year it was more persisting. Bronchial hyperreactivity measured after cold air challenge was higher in the group with recurrent wheezing (24.1%) than in the group without wheezing (18.8%, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Wheezing is a very common symptom in childhood and only partly associated with later bronchial hyperreactivity. On the other hand, asthma is often not diagnosed despite bronchial hyperreactivity and many years of wheezing.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Pertussis infection and allergic sensitization.

BACKGROUND: The immunogenic activity of B. pertussis infection has been described in various laboratory, animal, and clinical studies. There is, however, no information on the impact of pertussis on allergies in the total population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of allergic sensitization and allergic rhinitis in children with and without previous pertussis infection. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out on 13,937 10-year-old children in the western (Munich and Southern Bavaria) and eastern parts of Germany (Leipzig and the region around Halle). A total of 11,969 questionnaires (85.9%) given to the parents were collected. Data from 9,484 German children (questionnaire and skin prick tests with six different allergens) were analyzed. RESULTS: Pertussis was much more common in the western than in the eastern part of Germany. The adjusted odds ratio for any allergic sensitization after pertussis was only slightly increased in western Germany with 1.3 (95% confidence limits 1.2 to 1.5) and in eastern Germany with 1.5, (1.2 to 1.8) but not for allergic rhinitis with 1.0 (0.7 to 1.4) and in Eastern Germany 1.3 (0.8 to 1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Infection with pertussis seems to have only a weak influence on allergic sensitization and does not explain the observed differences in allergic sensitization between western and eastern Germany.

Asthma↗
PubMed1993

Road traffic and adverse effects on respiratory health in children.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether road traffic in a big city has a direct effect on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in children. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Of all 7445 fourth grade children (aged 9-11 years) in Munich, 6537 were examined. Of the children with German nationality and the same residence during the past five years and known exposure data, 4678 questionnaires and 4320 pulmonary function tests could be analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Variables of pulmonary function by forced expiration and respiratory symptoms reported in a questionnaire; census data on car traffic collected in the school district. RESULTS: Density of car traffic ranged from 7000 to 125,000 cars per 24 hours. Multiple regression analysis of peak expiratory flow showed a significant decrease of 0.71% (95% confidence interval 1.08% to 0.33%) per increase of 25,000 cars daily passing through the school district on the main road. Maximum expiratory flow when 25% vital capacity had been expired was decreased by 0.68% (1.11% to 0.25%). In contrast, response to cold air challenge was not increased. The adjusted odds ratio for the cumulative prevalence of recurrent wheezing with the same exposure was 1.08 (1.01 to 1.16). Cumulative prevalence of recurrent dyspnoea was increased, with an odds ratio of 1.10 (1.00 to 1.20). Lifetime prevalence of asthma (odds ratio 1.04; 0.89 to 1.21) and recurrent bronchitis (1.05; 0.98 to 1.12) were not significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of road traffic diminish forced expiratory flow and increase respiratory symptoms in children.

Automobiles↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of cold air challenge data in a population sample using a model of bronchial hyperreactivity and disposition to bronchial obstruction.

To explore the role of bronchial hyperreactivity and obstruction after cold air challenge, data from a cross-sectional study of more than 7,000 10-year-old children were used. Current knowledge of hyperreactivity is primarily based on pharmacological provocation tests with variable prechallenge flow rates and their decrease relative to baseline. Using forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 sec values before and after cold air challenge, however, it is possible to define a subsample of children with predominant hyperreactivity and a subsample with predominant obstruction after challenge. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the diagnoses in the two subsamples were compared. The analysis showed that children with bronchial obstruction have nearly the same frequency of respiratory symptoms as those with bronchial hyperreactivity. A combined model of bronchial obstruction and hyperreactivity was, therefore, more predictive of symptoms than a model of hyperreactivity alone.

Air↗
PubMed1993

Reactivity to cold-air hyperventilation in normal and in asthmatic children in a survey of 5,697 schoolchildren in southern Bavaria.

The measurement of bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) may give additional information to questionnaire-based studies of asthma prevalence. It is desirable to have a provocation method with high specificity that avoids the use of pharmacologic provocations in large numbers of healthy children. It was the aim of this study to establish a range of values for responsiveness to cold-air challenge in normal children, to describe its specificity and sensitivity for a diagnosis of asthma in a large unselected sample of schoolchildren in a field study, and to measure factors associated with hyperresponsiveness. All fourth-grade schoolchildren (9 to 11 yr of age) in Munich and several southern Bavarian communities (n = 9,403) were surveyed with a questionnaire (response rate, 87%), baseline lung function, and cold-air hyperventilation challenge (n = 5,697). A diagnosis of asthma was reported in 7.9% of children. In the reference group, the ninety-fifth percentile (%ile) for the change of FEV1 (DFEV1) was -9.0%; the 90%ile was -7.3%. Asymptomatic children fulfilling all criteria for the reference group showed a significantly increased reactivity if they had a family history of asthma (p = 0.038). With a cutoff for DFEV1 of -9.0% or -7.3% the respective sensitivities to "detect" a diagnosis of asthma were 21.6 and 30.7%, and for asthma with symptoms during the previous 12 months it was 26.2 and 35.1%. Reactivity to cold air increased with the number of episodes of asthma in the previous 12 months. In a multiple linear regression model, factors associated with increased reactivity to cold air were diagnosed asthma, hay fever, male sex, younger age, and a positive skin test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Asthma↗
PubMed1993

[Cold air hyperventilation provocation].

The prevalence of asthma was determined by a parental questionnaire in 9403 schoolchildren aged 9-11 years. A cold air challenge was done in 7248 of these children to test for bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Regarding the doctor diagnoses of asthma as reported by the parental questionnaire the specificity of the cold air challenge was 92.5%, the sensitivity 28.7%, the positive predictive value 9.1% and the negative predictive value 98%.

Asthma↗
PubMed1992

Month of birth and allergic disease at the age of 10.

The relationship between month of birth and asthma, hay fever and skin sensitization to mixed grass pollen was analysed in a population-based cross-sectional study in Munich and Bavaria 1989-1990 of 6535 10-year-old children. The relative risk of developing atopic disease is calculated by comparing the prevalence in a single month with the prevalence of all other months. A slightly increased risk of developing allergic skin sensitization for grass pollen (n = 1128) was found for February (odds ratio, 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.6), May (1.4, 1.1-1.8) and June (1.3, 1.0-1.6). For hay fever (n = 379) an increase was found for May (1.5, 1.0-2.1) and for allergic asthma (n = 277) for August (1.4, 1.0-2.1). A protective effect was observed for certain months of birth; September for allergic sensitization (0.8, 0.6-1.0), October for and November for hay fever (0.6, 0.3-0.9). The occurrence of hay fever and positive prick test is explained by the seasonal variation of atmospheric grass pollen and the peak in August of asthmatic patients by house dust. Date of birth appears therefore to slightly influence the risk of developing an allergic sensitization and allergic diseases.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Genetic risk for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

In order to explore the genetic risk of a child with a family history of allergies developing asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis, questionnaires filled in by 6665 families were analysed. The data were collected in a population based cross sectional survey of 9-11 year old schoolchildren living in Munich and southern Bavaria. The relation between asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis and the number of allergic first degree relatives, and the type of allergic disease was examined. Analyses were done separately for families with single or multiple allergic diseases. In families with one allergic parent the risk of the child developing asthma was increased by asthma in a parent, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 4.0) but not by parental allergic rhinitis with OR 1.0 (0.7 to 1.5) or atopic dermatitis, OR 1.0 (0.6 to 1.6). For allergic rhinitis the highest risk with OR 3.6 (2.9 to 4.6) was observed with allergic rhinitis of one parent, apparently lower for asthma of one parent, OR 2.5 (1.6 to 4.0) or atopic dermatitis, OR 1.7 (1.1 to 2.5). Children with parental atopic dermatitis had a high risk for atopic dermatitis, OR 3.4 (2.6 to 4.4), compared with children with parental asthma, OR 1.5 (1.0 to 2.2), or parental allergic rhinitis, OR 1.4 (1.1 to 1.8). Risk factors in families with combined allergies of two relatives (parents and siblings) were analysed separately for the different combinations. These results support the hypothesis that asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis are multifactorial diseases brought about by various familial and environmental influences.

Asthma↗
PubMed1992

[Effects of passive smoking on the pediatric respiratory tract].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk of parental smoking to the respiratory health of their children data of a cross sectional study on fourth-grade schoolchildren in Munich and Southern Bavaria were analysed. METHODS: Allergic and asthmatic diseases and symptoms, risk factors like family history, indoor pollution and parental smoking were evaluated by a questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were performed in 7284 school children aged (9-11 years). Lung function values were adjusted for height, weight, sex and other confounders. RESULTS: The children, whose parents smoke at home, had significantly lower levels of peak flow, MEF75, MEF50 and MEF25 compared to children from non-smoking families, with a dose-response relationship. Smoking of more than 20 cigarettes at home is associated with a mean decrease in MEF75 of 5.7%, in MEF50 of 4.9% and in Peak Flow of 4.9% (p < 0.001). The prevalence of cough and wheezing increased with increasing smoking rates of the parents. CONCLUSIONS: Passive exposure to smoke has direct measurable dose-dependent effects on the respiratory system of children.

Asthma↗
PubMed1991

A mutation resulting in increased triosephosphate isomerase activity in Mus musculus.

A mutation resulting in increased triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) activity in blood was recovered in offspring of procarbazine hydrochloride-treated male mice. Breeding experiments indicated a codominant mode of expression. Compared to the wild type, heterozygous and homozygous mutants have mean erythrocyte TPI activities of approximately 140 and 190%, respectively. Besides blood and erythrocytes the increased activity is expressed to a similar degree in spleen, and to a lesser degree in liver, lung, kidney, muscle and brain. Enhanced activity was absent in the heart. Heterozygous and homozygous mutants are viable, fully fertile and exhibit no significant differences in haematological or other physiological traits studied. Biochemical investigations of TPI in both mutant genotypes revealed neither physicochemical nor kinetic differences compared to the wild type. Moreover, immunoinactivation studies showed no difference in the amount of antiplasma required to inactivate a constant amount of TPI activity in all three genotypes, strongly suggesting that the differences in enzyme activity are attributable to differing amounts of enzyme protein expressed per cell. Mapping studies indicated that the mutation is closely linked to the Gapd locus and consequently is located either adjacent to or within the Tpi-1 structural locus. It is hypothesized that the mutation affected a regulatory element contiguous to the Tpi-1 structural locus which acts by increasing the amount of TPI expressed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Procedures for two-sample comparisons with multiple endpoints controlling the experimentwise error rate.

Clinical trials are often concerned with the comparison of two treatment groups with multiple endpoints. As alternatives to the commonly used methods, the T2 test and the Bonferroni method, O'Brien (1984, Biometrics 40, 1079-1087) proposes tests based on statistics that are simple or weighted sums of the single endpoints. This approach turns out to be powerful if all treatment differences are in the same direction [compare Pocock, Geller, and Tsiatis (1987, Biometrics 43, 487-498)]. The disadvantage of these multivariate methods is that they are suitable only for demonstrating a global difference, whereas the clinician is further interested in which specific endpoints or sets of endpoints actually caused this difference. It is shown here that all tests are suitable for the construction of a closed multiple test procedure where, after the rejection of the global hypothesis, all lower-dimensional marginal hypotheses and finally the single hypotheses are tested step by step. This procedure controls the experimentwise error rate. It is just as powerful as the multivariate test and, in addition, it is possible to detect significant differences between the endpoints or sets of endpoints.

Biometry↗
PubMed1990

Osmotic state of lenses in three dominant murine cataract mutants.

Three newly detected dominant cataract mutations (Asc-1, Cat-3vao, Tcm) were investigated for effects on osmotic alterations in the lenses of heterozygotes. The lens wet weight was reduced in two mutant lines (Cat-3vao and Tcm), and the water content in the lenses of the Cat-3vao mice was increased. Moreover, in the cataractous lenses from Cat-3vao mice, the sodium-potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase) activity was enhanced and the ATP concentration, correspondingly decreased. The osmotic variations observed in the Cat-3vao mutants might have been due to a metabolic response to the yet unknown, primary pathological event. The lenses of the other two mutant lines (Asc-1 and Tcm) revealed no alterations that could be related to osmotic stress. In no mutant line investigated could a decrease in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity be demonstrated that was similar to the causative factor in the Nakano mutant line. The Cat-3vao mice exhibited some similarities to the Philly mutant line.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Histological and biochemical characterization of the murine cataract mutant Nop.

Nop, a spontaneous murine dominant cataract mutation, was detected by slit lamp investigations and preliminary characterized as a nuclear opacity. Histological investigations confirmed these findings and revealed additionally polar cataracts with vacuolization. In contrast to wild-type lenses, the nuclei of the cortical cells could also be detected in the area of the lens nucleus in Nop lenses. No other pathological alterations were found in the eyes. Lens wet and dry weights, as well as the content of water-soluble lens proteins, were reduced in heterozygous and homozygous mutants. The body weight was only slightly altered, indicating a rather lens-specific growth retardation. Some parameters concerning the osmotic state of the lens were changed, however, only in the homozygous mutants. Electrophoresis of the water-soluble lens proteins of the mutants revealed either additional bands, not present in the wild types, or bands of overrepresented proteins only slightly present in wild-type lenses. The changes might be related to the reduced amount of gamma-crystallins, which alters the composition of lenticular proteins in the mutants. Northern blots probed with cDNA specific for alpha-, beta- or gamma-crystallin genes suggested a reduced transcription of the gamma-crystallin genes. In contrast, the transcription of alpha- and beta-crystallins appeared to be similar in wild type and the mutants. The selective reduced amount of gamma-crystallin specific RNA can be discussed as a biochemical indicator for the histologically observed changes of differentiation in the cataractous Nop lenses.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of Cat-2t, a radiation-induced dominant cataract mutation in mice.

A dominant cataract mutation was detected recently among the offspring of x-ray-irradiated male mice. The mutation, which causes total lens opacity, has provisionally been designated by the gene symbol Cat-2t. In the lenses of heterozygous and homozygous Cat-2t mutants, the epithelial and fiber cells were swollen and the lens capsule was ruptured. The histologic analysis demonstrated a complete destruction of the cellular organization of the lens, which might be caused by its altered developmental processes. The data derived from biochemical investigations indicate that biochemistry of the cataractous Cat-2t lenses is affected: the osmotic state as indicated by the increased water content and increased Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity; the energy state as indicated by the decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration; and the redox state as indicated by the enhanced content of oxidized glutathione. Additionally, the lenticular protein composition is altered because of the presence of vimentin in the water-soluble fraction. This cannot be explained by the enhanced crosslinking activity of transglutaminase. The changes of the osmotic, energy, and redox states are considered to be secondary in relation to the altered lenticular development. In contrast, the variations concerning vimentin and transglutaminase might be a biochemical indication of the changed development. Possible similarities to other dominantly expressed murine cataract mutants are discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of Scat (suture cataract), a dominant cataract mutation in mice.

The autosomal, dominant mutation Scat (suture-cataract) was found in (101/El x C3H/El)F1-hybrid mice. The severity of the cataract is dependent on the gene dose. The mutation causes an anterior suture opacity in heterozygotes amd microphthalmia with vacuolated lenses in homozygotes. In histological sections of lenses the heterozygotes exhibit a hydropic swelling of lens epithelium, whereas in homozygotes interruption and degeneration of lens fibers as well as clefts and folds of the capsule were observed. The mutation has a complete penetrance and constant expressivity. The body weight of the mutants is not altered; the mutation has no effects on fertility or viability. The lens wet and dry weights are diminished (more pronounced in the homozygotes). The water content of the lens is enhanced only in the homozygous Scat mutants. Biochemically, the lenticular content of water-soluble proteins is decreased in the homozygous Scat mutants. By electrophoresis, in the lenses of homozygous Scat mutants a different pattern of water-soluble proteins could be observed. The lenses of both, heterozygous and homozygous Scat mutants exhibit enhanced Na+,K+-ATPase activity and a decreased ATP concentration. The genetical, morphological or biochemical data suggest that the effect of the Scat mutation is distinct from other described cataract mutations in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Oxidative stress and inherited cataracts in mice.

To determine whether an unbalanced redox state might accompany the development of particular inherited mouse cataracts, the lenticular content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were chosen as markers. For wild-type lenses, an enhanced GSSG content could be observed in females as compared to males. Such a sex effect could not be detected for the SOD activity. In the mutants, GSSG content in cataractous lenses was found to be enhanced in 2 of 7 cases; the increases in other mutants were not significant. Changes of the SOD activity were even less consistent and only a random correlation of GSSG content and SOD activity with cataractogenesis could be deduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Are there risk factors for stenosing laryngitis? Results of the Southern Bavaria pseudo-croup study].

We tried to find a correlation between elevated air pollution levels and incidences of laryngitis (pseudocroup). Clinical data-obtained by questionnaire-from 418 children with laryngitis, viral shedding in rhinal secretion and data on air pollution as SO2, NO2 and dust levels were compared via correlation analyses. Boys with allergic diathesis and with signs for bronchial hyperreactivity were identified as a high risk group. The high incidence of laryngitis especially seen in the month of October could be explained by the increased number of RSV positive patients. There was no significant correlation between laryngitis and the air pollution levels during the time of observation.

Air Pollution↗