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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Serum lipoprotiens in four European communities: a quantitative comparison.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations have been measured in 985 men and women sampled from communities in London, Naples, Uppsala and Geneva. This was done to define normal ranges, detect inter-population differences, and relate such differences to levels of lipids in the major lipoprotein classes of plasma. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations showed substantial differences between the four populations; levels of these lipids showed parallel trends, which were attributable to differences in low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein concentrations. By contrast, high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations showed little or no interpopulation differences. Geographical differences in serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were not correlated with variation in the prevalence of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of total serum IgE and specific IgE to common aeroallergens by sex and age, and their relationship to each other in a random sample of the Dutch general population aged 20-70 years. Dutch ECRHS Group, European Community Respiratory Health Study.

To describe the distribution of serum total IgE and specific IgE to common aeroallergens by sex and age and to study their relationship to each other, we measured serum total IgE and specific IgE (CAP) to house-dust mite, timothy grass, cat, birch, and Cladosporium in a random sample of 2496 subjects, aged 20-70 years from the Dutch general population. We found that total IgE was higher in men, independently of smoking, and that total IgE had no relationship with age after adjustment for specific IgE and smoking in linear regression analysis. At least one positive specific IgE test was found in 32% in both sexes. Men had higher prevalences of specific IgE to house-dust mite and lower prevalences of specific IgE to birch than women. The proportion with positive specific IgE decreased with age. The mean total IgE increased with the number of positive specific IgE tests. Thus, total IgE is higher in men and has no relationship with age if specific IgE is taken into account. The prevalences of specific IgE to aeroallergens are high and decrease with increasing age. We suggest that sex differences in total IgE should be considered when using total IgE.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Association of lung function decline with the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter microsatellite polymorphism in a general population sample. Results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS), France.

Inducible heme oxygenase (HO-1) acts against oxidants that are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterised by impaired lung function. A (GT)(n) repeat polymorphism in the HO-1 gene promoter can modulate the gene transcription in response to oxidative stress. We hypothesised that this polymorphism could be associated with the level of lung function and decline in subjects exposed to oxidative aggression (smokers). We genotyped 749 French subjects (20-44 years, 50% men, 40% never smokers) examined in both 1992 and 2000 as part of the ECRHS. Lung function was assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced ventilatory capacity (FVC) ratio. We compared long (L) allele carriers ((GT)(n) > or =33 repeats for one or two alleles) to non-carriers. Cross sectionally, in 2000, L allele carriers showed lower FEV1/FVC than non-carriers. During the 8 year period, the mean annual FEV1 and FEV1/FVC declines were -30.9 (31.1) ml/year and -1.8 (6.1) U/year, respectively. FEV1/FVC decline was steeper in L allele carriers than in non-carriers (-2.6 (5.5) v -1.5 (6.4), p = 0.07). There was a strong interaction between the L allele and smoking. In 2000, the L allele was associated with lower FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC in heavy smokers (> or =20 cigarettes/day) only (p for interaction = 0.07 and 0.002 respectively). Baseline heavy smokers carrying the L allele showed the steepest FEV1 decline (-62.0 (29.5 ml/year) and the steepest FEV1/FVC decline (-8.8 (5.4 U/year) (p for interaction = 0.009 and 0.0006). These results suggest that a long (L) HO-1 gene promoter in heavy smokers is associated with susceptibility to develop airway obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Atopy and nonspecific bronchial responsiveness. A population-based assessment. Spanish Group of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

The relative importance of specific immunoresponse in explaining nonspecific bronchial responsiveness (BR) has scarcely been examined. We provide quantitative estimates of the proportion of BR attributable to specific atopy to different common aeroallergens. We used data from a cross-sectional study on a random sample of the general population 20 to 44 yr of age from five Spanish areas. There were 1,816 participants who performed a methacholine challenge and had atopy assessed. BR was defined as a 20% or more fall in FEV1. Atopy was assessed by measuring serum-specific IgE or skin tests to cat, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Cladosporium, Alternaria, timothy grass, olive, birch, Parietaria, or ragweed. The strongest associations between BR and specific IgE response were against timothy grass (prevalence rate ratio = 1.78; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.6), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus = 1.64 (1.2 to 2.2), and olive = 2.36 (1.5 to 3.7), all after adjustment by age, sex, area of residence, smoking, and a positive response to any of the other eight allergens measured. The population attributable risk of BR for a positive response to any of the nine allergens measured was 20.96% (10.2 to 43.2%) when adjusting for area of residence, age, sex, and smoking. Nonspecific bronchial responsiveness in the general population was found to be related to atopy against single specific allergens, but the population risk attributable to atopy may be lower than previously suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Determinants of cough in young adults participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Cough is a common symptom that affects a large proportion of the general population. The aim of this investigation was to identify determinants of nocturnal, nonproductive and productive cough in population samples from different countries. In a cross-sectional international population survey, 18,277 subjects (20-48 yrs) from 16 countries answered an interview-led questionnaire. Total and specific immunoglobulin-E was measured and spirometry was performed. Three types of cough were defined: nocturnal, nonproductive and productive cough. The relation of the independent variables to cough was estimated by means of logistic regression for each centre or country and combined across centre or country by random-effects meta-analysis. The median prevalence of nocturnal, nonproductive and productive cough in the different centres was 30.7%, 10.2% and 10.2%, respectively. Nocturnal and nonproductive cough were related to female sex (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=2.08 and 1.27, respectively), while nocturnal and productive cough were related to rhinitis (OR=1.46 and 1.61, respectively). All three types of cough were related to asthma, tobacco smoking, environmental tobacco smoke and obesity. Females are more likely to report nocturnal and nonproductive cough than males. Cough was related to treatable disorders, like asthma and rhinitis, as well as avoidable factors, such as tobacco smoking and environmental tobacco smoke.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Respiratory symptoms, lung function and use of health services among unemployed young adults in Spain. Spanish Group of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

The association of respiratory symptoms, lung function and use of health services with employment status was examined in Spain, a country with a high rate of unemployment. A population sample comprising 179 unemployed and 1,868 employed subjects aged 20-44 yrs in 1993, was randomly selected from a base population of about 170,000 people in five urban and rural areas of Spain. Subjects completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, occupational exposure and use of health services, and performed a forced spirometry, a methacholine challenge test and blood tests. Unemployed subjects had a higher risk of simple chronic bronchitis (odds ratio=2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.30-3.24) and of bronchitis-type symptoms, than those who were employed. These risks were, in part, due to the higher prevalence of smoking, poorer housing and prior occupational exposures among unemployed than among employed people. Smaller differences were found between employed and unemployed subjects for asthma-type symptoms, atopia and lung function tests. Use of health services among subjects with respiratory symptoms was similar among employed and unemployed subjects, except that the latter consistently reported less frequent contact with specialized practitioners. Unemployed subjects had a higher risk of bronchitis-type symptoms than employed subjects. In Spain's national, free-access healthcare system, the differential use of specialized health services by employment status is likely to imply differences in the characteristics of the healthcare provided.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Is there a link between suicide in young men and unemployment? A comparison of the UK with other European Community Countries.

Within the context of marked increases in suicide rates in the UK among men between 1974 and 1988, the rate among those aged 15-24 years rose more than that of any other age band. The UK suicide rate among young men also worsened compared with those of most other countries in the EC. Rises in the general male suicide rate were statistically associated with rises in unemployment in most of the EC.

Adolescent↗