Air pollutants, genes and early childhood acute bronchitis.

Background: Studies have reported gene-by-environment interaction for chronic respiratory conditions but none on acute illnesses in children. We investigated, longitudinally, whether genotype modifies the relationship of environmental exposures (second-hand tobacco smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter <2.5μm (PM2.

Lung effects of inhaled corticosteroids in a rhesus monkey model of childhood asthma.

Background: The risks for infants and young children receiving inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy are largely unknown. Recent clinical studies indicate that ICS therapy in pre-school children with symptoms of asthma result in decreased symptoms without influencing the clinical disease course, but potentially affect postnatal growth and development. The current study employs a primate experimental model to identify the risks posed by ICS therapy.

Ambient nitrogen oxides exposure and early childhood respiratory illnesses.

Acute respiratory infections are common in children below 5 years and recent studies suggest a possible link with air pollution. In this study, we investigated the association between ambient nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and bronchitis or upper airway inflammation. This longitudinal study was conducted in Teplice and Prachatice districts, Czech Republic.

Distinct tachykinin NK(1) receptor function in primate nucleus tractus solitarius neurons is dysregulated after second-hand tobacco smoke exposure.

Background And Purpose: Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure in children increases the risk of asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. Epidemiological and experimental data have suggested SHS can alter neuroplasticity in the CNS, associated with substance P. We hypothesized that exposure to SHS in young primates changed the effect of substance P on the plasticity of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), where airway sensory information is first processed in the CNS.

Exposure to air pollution in critical prenatal time windows and IgE levels in newborns.

The objective of this study was to analyze the mechanisms by which exposure to ambient air pollutants influences respiratory health may include altered prenatal immune development. To analyze associations between elevated cord serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and maternal air pollution exposure during each month of gestation. Total cord serum IgE was determined by the CAP system and mothers' total IgE levels by nephelometry for 459 births in the Czech Republic from May 1994 to mid-January 1997.