Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Karmaus

Publications and source records attributed to W Karmaus.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Early childhood risk factors for sensitization at school age.

Early childhood risk factors for current sensitization were investigated by use of cross-sectional data of a longitudinal study in Southwest Germany. Information was gathered by questionnaires from 1812 families of whom 1470 children 6 to 8 years old were tested by means of a skin prick test (SPT) with seven aeroallergens. Groups with sensitization (n = 201; positive SPT to grass pollens 6.6%, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 6.5%, Dermatophagoides farinae 4.4%, cat dander 4.6%, any of the tested allergens 13.7%) are compared with children without sensitization (n = 1269). As risk factors for any sensitization parental atopy (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence interval [95%CI]: unilateral 1.9/1.3 to 2.6; bilateral 2.8/1.5 to 5.2), low gestational age (1.9/1.1 to 3.2), and male gender (1.6/1.2 to 2.3) are statistically significant in multiple logistic regression. Former cat ownership is significantly related to sensitization to cat dander (2.7/1.4 to 5.5). Breast feeding, maternal smoking habits after the child's birth, prior exposure to pets, and social class are not important. In conclusion, our data suggest parental atopy, low gestational age, and male gender as independent risk factors for sensitization to aeroallergens at school age.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

Longitudinal variability of skin prick test results.

The skin prick test (SPT) is a commonly used procedure for assessing a specific sensitization. The longitudinal variability of test results is of interest for clinical as well as epidemiological investigations. The sensitization to four common aeroallergens (grass pollen, birch pollen, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat dander) is investigated within the framework of three consecutive SPTs at 11-month intervals for a population of 587 schoolchildren. The prevalence of sensitization based on a weal diameter of at least 2 mm was between 12.9% (cat dander) and 23.9% (grass pollen) in the initial testing. The positive predictive values of the initial SPT were between 75.3% (birch pollen) and 88.2% (cat dander) for the two subsequent SPTs. In the case of initially negative tests with positive second and third SPTs the incidence ranged between 3.2% (cat dander) and 4.3% (birch pollen) per year. A clear increase in the intensity of reaction in subsequent tests was observed in a number of probands testing positively in the initial SPT. In conclusion, our data indicate a high long-term stability of a specific sensitization to aeroallergens in SPT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Clinical atopy and associated factors in primary-school pupils.

To investigate potential risk factors for clinical atopy in childhood, we obtained cross-sectional data from a cohort of 1376 8-year-old pupils. Parental atopy (hay fever, asthma, eczema), gestational age, maternal smoking habits, and the child's history of asthma, hay fever, and eczema were ascertained by questionnaire. Combining the history and the result of a skin prick test using seven aeroallergens, we defined the child's atopic diseases. Of the population evaluated, 25.4% were categorized as atopic (10.2% allergic asthma, 17.3% eczema, 6.9% hay fever). As compared with the clear nonatopics (40.2%), parental atopic diseases were more prevalent in each of the atopic groups. Significant associations of the parents' and child's disease were obvious for eczema and hay fever. Low gestational age (LGA) was more frequent in children with any atopy or with an allergic asthma (odds ratio (OR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-2.97; OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.5-5.4). Hay fever and allergic asthma occurred less frequently in girls (OR 0.5; 95% confidence interval 0.3-0.8; OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-0.9). In conclusion, our data underline the importance of parental atopy for the clinical outcome in the offspring. In addition, LGA appears to be a risk factor for allergic asthma and for general atopy in later life.

Austria↗
PubMed1992

Fletcher's paradox.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

False Negative Reactions↗
PubMed1991

[Air pollutant burden and bronchial asthma in school children].

To examine the possibility of an effect of indoor and outdoor exposures on the prevalence of asthma in childhood we conducted a cross-sectional study in the area of Freiburg city and two communities in the Black Forest. The study group consists of 704 children aged 7 to 16 years. The children and their mothers took part in a standardized interview and a medical examination. Indoor exposures were assessed from information gathered in the interview by two different indices: (a) heating system and single room heating, and (b) the amount of indoor ventilation. The measurement of outdoor pollutants took into account weekly estimations of NO2 and combustion particles. The presence of asthma was recorded according to a previous medical diagnosis. Confounders were assessed during the interview (passive smoking, genetic predisposition to asthma etc.) or during the medical examination (cutaneous sensitization with a skin prick test). For the analysis of the data we applied logistic regression models and estimated odds-ratios. Only one of the four hypothesis variables displays a significant effect on the prevalence of asthma: Stoves as heating device carry a 4.8-fold relative risk for asthma compared to other types of heating. Among the confounding variables controlled for in the explanatory model, cutaneous reactions showed a relative risk of eight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Indoor air contamination with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), used extensively for wood preservative purposes, contains trace amounts of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and-dibenzofurans (PCDFs) as contaminants. Residues of these compounds are present on the surface and sub-surface of the treated wood. These contaminants have the potential to wear (or migrate) away or volatilize from the wood surface and become entrained in ambient air or dust particles, and thus becoming available for human contact. During the early sixties several day nursery facilities were built with PCP-treated wood in the northern part of West Germany. In this paper we describe the indoor air monitoring data in these kindergarten buildings and the associated possible long-term health risk. The indoor ambient air was found to be contaminated with highly toxic PCDDs/PCDFs at pg/m3 levels. HxCDDs, HpCFs and OCDDs/OCDFs congeners were the major contaminants.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1989

[Epidemiologic recording of bronchial asthma in the school child].

Bronchial asthma is the most frequent chronic disease in childhood. Nevertheless, no definition of the disease is known that would enable a satisfactory epidemiological recording of asthma. In 704 schoolchildren, typical signs and symptoms of asthma were recorded within the framework of a standardized interview. The occurrence of asthmatic symptoms was quantified by means of a symptom score. In 555 of the probands, bronchial reactivity was tested by means of an inhalative challenge with carbachol. The information gathered from the interview and the carbachol challenge test was placed in relationship to the family doctor's diagnosis of "bronchial asthma". Lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosed by the family doctors is 4.97% with a clear male predominance. The asthmatic symptoms showed varying frequencies and validity compared with the family doctor's diagnosis. The occurrence of dyspnoea appears to be particularly sensitive (77%). Dyspnoea coincident with exercise is highly specific (99%). The sensitivity of the combination of carbachol test and symptom score is 92% and the specificity is 75%. The instruments described above offer a reliable possibility for epidemiological field research to record the prevalence of bronchial asthma in schoolchildren.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Working conditions and health: social epidemiology, patterns of stress and change.

This paper does not attempt to review stress research but to highlight contrary positions. Arguments about central questions such as exposure vs disposition, social factors vs the constitutional make-up has lead to refinements in methodology. However, investigations seldom do justice to these ideals discussed. It should be a conditio sine qua non when estimating the effects of dispositional factors to consider exposure which could change dispositions or interact with them. Also it becomes obvious that when investigating working life a limited view of risks factors only must faile because job latitudes and support are of salient importance. Concerning changes in working life our methodological flights of fancy are confronted with the limited horizon and world of a mole.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

PCB exposure in utero and via breast milk. A review.

A review of the literature was conducted to investigate the importance to offspring of in utero and breast milk polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure. All reports that we could identify (n=25) were included, representing 16 study populations. Tissue-specific PCB concentrations in human placenta, breast milk, maternal blood and cord blood were compared to determine accumulation ratios between tissue compartments. On a lipid basis, the highest concentration of PCB in placenta (5027 ng/g fat) was 2.8 times higher than the highest concentration of PCB in breast milk ( 1770 ng/g fat). While there are limitations with regard to quantitation methods and statistical methods utilized by the reviewed studies, our results suggest that PCBs may be capable of crossing the placenta to a greater extent than previously believed. Future studies of PCB body burden in the perinatal period should include placenta, breast milk, maternal and cord blood specimens. In order to compare PCB concentrations in various tissues and with other studies, concentrations should be determined on a lipid basis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infections and atopic disorders in childhood and organochlorine exposure.

The authors investigated whether organochlorine exposure is associated with prevalence of otitis media, pneumonia, pertussis, asthma, and increased immunoglobulin E levels in children. Organochlorine concentrations and histories of infection and atopic manifestation were available for 343 children, and immunoglobulin E levels were available for 340 children. The authors applied logistic and linear regressions and controlled for confounders. In general, the prevalence of infections in children was not related to organochlorine exposure. However, for the combined effect of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene with polychlorinated biphenyls or hexachlorobenzene, a significantly increased relative risk (odds ratios = 3.70 and 2.38, respectively) was found for otitis media. Exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene resulted in a significantly higher odds ratio for asthma (odds ratio = 3.71; 95% confidence interval = 1.10, 12.56) and in immunoglobulin E concentrations above 200 kU/l (odds ratio = 2.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.20, 4.31). This is the first study in which dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene has been identified as a substantial risk factor for asthma and for increased immunoglobulin E blood levels.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Body burden of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds in whole blood of 7-10-year-old children in the area of a hazardous waste incineration facility].

Within the framework of a human biomonitoring project the distribution of foreign substances in the blood of children living in regions which were industrially polluted to differing extents was investigated. The results from children who lived in the neighbourhood of a hazardous waste incinerator plant (SVA) were compared with children from a control region with similar industrial pollution (Rhine Valley Control Region = RKR) and from a second control area with lower industrial pollution (Odenwald Control Region = OKR). PCB118, 138, 153, 170, 180, 183 and 187 were analysed in the blood of 348 children between 7 and 10 years of age. Indicators of exposure in the regression models, adjusted for age, sex and for other confounders, are the regions or places of residence (18 neigbourhoods). Children from the SVA area have for PCB170 (p = 0.02) and PCB180 (p = 0.007) higher average values (or for PCb with a low prevalence of detection) a greater relative chance of detection (PCB183: OR 2.00; 95%CI 1.08-3.69; PCB187: OR 1.99; 95%CI 0.97-4.09) than children in the OKR. Apart from gender of the child and sequential order of birth, behavioural characteristics, such as breast feeding, passive smoking and body-mass index, will contribute to explaining the variance of PCb. The results can presently be viewed only as a regional comparison of the three investigated groups. The effects seen here are small but statistically significant and indicate a regionally plausible pattern.

Air Pollutants↗