CD14 Tobacco Gene–Environment Interaction Modifies Asthma Severity & Immunoglobulin E Levels

CD14 gene
CD14 is part of the receptor complex for endotoxin, which is a component of tobacco smoke. The CD14 gene is located on chromosome 5q, a region previously demonstrated to be linked to asthma when stratified for smoke exposure. This study was designed to extend these findings by determining whether polymorphisms in the CD14 gene are related to this gene–environment interaction on asthma. Puerto Rican (n = 362 trios) and Mexican (n = 259 trios) families ascertained through a child with asthma were studied. (more…)

The Canadian Childhood Asthma Primary Prevention Study

Avoidance of any one of the individual risk factors associated with childhood asthma has not been successful in preventing its development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention programme for the primary prevention of asthma in high-risk infants at 7 years of age. Five hundred and forty-five high-risk infants with an immediate family history of asthma and allergies were prospectively randomized into intervention and control groups pre-natally. (more…)

Nutrition and Risk of Asthma : Vitamins A, C, D, E, Minerals and Antioxidants

nutrition asthma
There is increasing evidence relating body mass index to the prevalence of asthma and incidence of asthma in children and adults, males, and more consistently, in adolescent females. It is unlikely that the association is attributable to reverse causation, i.e. that asthma and obesity because of exercise-induced asthma symptoms. Rather, weight gain can antedate the development of asthma. Weight reduction among asthmatic patients can also result in improvements of lung function. (more…)

Atopic Dermatitis Risk Factors in Children at 3.5 Years Of Age

Atopic Dermatitis Children
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is increasing in Western societies. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that this is due to reduced exposure to environmental allergens and infections during early life. The authors examined factors associated with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis at 3.5 years of age, especially those factors implicated by the hygiene hypothesis. The Auckland Birthweight Collaborative study is a case–control study of risk factors for small-for-gestational-age babies. Cases were born at term with birth weight at or below the 10th centile; controls were appropriate for gestational age, with birth weight above the 10th centile. (more…)

Soluble CD14 in Breast Milk: Atopic Dermatitis & Asthma In Early Childhood

Soluble CD14 Concentration
Breast milk contains a variety of bioactive substances, among them soluble CD14 (sCD14), which plays an important role in innate immunity. The authors analysed data of a large prospective birth cohort study to examine the determinants of sCD14 in breast milk, and investigated whether breast-feeding practice and sCD14 concentrations in breast milk are determinants of the risk of Atopic Dermatitis and asthma in children. Eight hundred and three mothers and their newborn infants were included in this analysis. (more…)

Allergen Avoidance and Environment Control: Management of Allergy & Asthma

Allergen Avoidance
Asthma and allergic diseases are common in both children and adults. Their development depends on an interaction between asthma genetic and asthma environmental risk factors. Genetic manipulation in multi factorial diseases such as asthma is not feasible in the foreseeable future. However, theoretically, environmental exposures can be controlled in an attempt to stem the rising prevalence of these diseases (primary prevention). Environmental exposures may also influence the frequency of symptoms and the requirement for medication in those with established disease. (more…)

Breast-Feeding Reduces The Risk Of Asthma During The First 4 Years Of Life

breast feeding allergy asthma
The protective effect of breast-feeding on asthma and allergy has been debated for more than 60 years without any hope of a consensus. A major problem is the lack of randomized controlled trials. However, breast-feeding has a number of other benefits and should be recommended irrespective of any effect on asthma or allergy. This is why randomized trials are not considered ethical. Thus, we have to rely on observational studies, which have produced conflicting results. Mothers who do or do not breastfeed differ in several environmental exposures, including socio-economic class, smoking and area of living, which influence indoor and outdoor exposure to pollutants. Despite statistical adjustment for these confounding factors, the evidence is never as robust as it would be with an randomized controlled trial. (more…)

Obesity And Asthma Relations in Children

Obesity And Asthma Children
There have been concurrent increases in the prevalence of obesity and asthma in recent years in New Zealand and other countries. Two cross-sectional surveys performed in 1989 and 2000 were used to test this association in children of mean age 11.7 years. BMI was calculated as weight/height 2 (kg/m 2 ) and obesity and overweight defined according to an international standard. Standard questions were used to measure the prevalence of asthma symptoms. (more…)

Detecting Milk Allergy in the Breast-Fed Baby

milk allergy baby

If an exclusively breast-fed baby is exhibiting the type of allergic to milk symptoms previously discussed, the mother will inevitably question whether foods in her diet are responsible. Of course, the first thing she must do is consult her baby’s doctor to rule out any other cause for the symptoms. (more…)

Feeding Lactose-Intolerant Baby: How to Give Milk-Free Infant Formulas

lactose intolerant baby

If the breast-fed baby is lactose intolerant (usually a temporary condition following intestinal infection at this age), mothers can continue to breast-feed, or pump their milk and treat it with lactase enzyme, until the baby’s symptoms stop. Details concerning feeding the lactose-intolerant infant are provided. There is no point in mothers’ eliminating milk and milk products from their diet to treat lactose intolerance in the baby, because their breast milk will contain 6 percent lactose (w/v) regardless of whether or not they consume cow’s milk. (more…)

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