A novel whole blood gene expression signature for asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis multimorbidity in children and adolescents.

Background: Allergic diseases often occur in combination (multimorbidity). Human blood transcriptome studies have not addressed multimorbidity. Large-scale gene expression data were combined to retrieve biomarkers and signaling pathways to disentangle allergic multimorbidity phenotypes.

[Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg) in the general adult population near an urban waste treatment plant in Biscay, Spain, in 2006].

Background: The possible emissions from a municipal urban solid waste treatment plant (MUSWTP) include heavy metals. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the levels of heavy metals in the blood and urine of the general population of Biscay.

Methods: The level of Pb was measured in 95 blood samples (BPb) and Cd, Cr and Hg in 93 urine samples (UCd, UCr, UHg) taken from adults in the general population of Biscay, Basque Country, in 2006.