Ambient air pollution impairs regulatory T-cell function in asthma.

Background: Asthma is the most frequent chronic disease in children, and children are at high risk for adverse health consequences associated with ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure. Regulatory T (Treg) cells are suppressors of immune responses involved in asthma pathogenesis. Treg-cell impairment is associated with increased DNA methylation of Forkhead box transcription factor 3 (Foxp3), a key transcription factor in Treg-cell activity.

An official American Thoracic Society public policy statement: Novel risk factors and the global burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Although cigarette smoking is the most important cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a substantial proportion of COPD cases cannot be explained by smoking alone.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors for COPD besides personal cigarette smoking.

Methods: We constituted an ad hoc subcommittee of the American Thoracic Society Environmental and Occupational Health Assembly.

Short-term effects of air pollution on wheeze in asthmatic children in Fresno, California.

Background: Although studies have demonstrated that air pollution is associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children with asthma, little is known about the susceptibility of subgroups, particularly those with atopy.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate our a priori hypothesis that identifiable subgroups of asthmatic children are more likely to wheeze with exposure to ambient air pollution.

Methods: A cohort of 315 children with asthma, 6-11 years of age, was recruited for longitudinal follow-up in Fresno, California (USA).

Low prevalence of chronic beryllium disease among workers at a nuclear weapons research and development facility.

Objective: To study the prevalence of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) in a cohort of workers from a nuclear weapons research and development facility.

Methods: We evaluated 50 workers with BeS with medical and occupational histories, physical examination, chest imaging with high-resolution computed tomography (N = 49), and pulmonary function testing. Forty of these workers also underwent bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsies.

An integrated model of environmental factors in adult asthma lung function and disease severity: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Diverse environmental exposures, studied separately, have been linked to health outcomes in adult asthma, but integrated multi-factorial effects have not been modeled. We sought to evaluate the contribution of combined social and physical environmental exposures to adult asthma lung function and disease severity.

Methods: Data on 176 subjects with asthma and/or rhinitis were collected via telephone interviews for sociodemographic factors and asthma severity (scored on a 0-28 point range).

When smoke gets in your lungs.

A major source of air pollution exposure in the developing world is smoke due to inefficient cooking with biomass fuels in poorly ventilated homes. Biomass fuel refers to any recently living plant- and/or animal-based material that is deliberately burned by humans as fuel, including wood, crop residues, and animal dung. The levels of exposure to particulate matter in such homes are often at least an order of magnitude higher than the highest concentrations that occur in the ambient air of the developed world.

Outdoor air pollution and uncontrolled asthma in the San Joaquin Valley, California.

Background: The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) in California ranks among the worst in the USA in terms of air quality, and its residents report some of the highest rates of asthma symptoms and asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalisations in California. Using California Health Interview Survey data, the authors examined associations between air pollution and asthma morbidity in this region.

Methods: Eligible subjects were SJV residents (2001 California Health Interview Survey) who reported physician-diagnosed asthma (n=1502, 14.

Biomass smoke exposures: health outcomes measures and study design.

Epidemiological studies of biomass smoke health effects have been conducted in a variety of settings and with a variety of study designs. The Health Effects Workgroup discussed several approaches for the investigation of health effects in communities exposed to wood smoke from nearby wildland fires, intentional agricultural burning, or residential biomass burning devices such as woodstoves or cookstoves. This presentation briefly reviews observational and intervention studies that have been conducted within these exposure settings.

An official American thoracic society statement: position statement on ATS activities for the promotion of respiratory and sleep/wake health and the care of the critically ill in the United States.

Background: The 1997 American Thoracic Society (ATS) statement "A Framework for Health Care Policy in the United States" outlined core principles for the Society's activities in the public health arena. In the succeeding 10 years, profound changes have taken place in the United States health care environment. In addition, the 2005 publication of the Society's Vision highlighted some differences between the original Statement and our current priorities.

Progression from beryllium exposure to chronic beryllium disease: an analytic model.

Background: Understanding the progression from beryllium exposure (BeE) to chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is essential for optimizing screening and early intervention to prevent CBD.

Methods: We developed an analytic markov model of progression to cbd that assigns annual probabilities for progression through three states: from BeE to beryllium sensitization and then to CBD. We used calculations of the number in each state over time to assess which of several alternative progression models are most consistent with the limited available empirical data on prevalence and incidence.

Longer term exposure to secondhand smoke and health outcomes in COPD: impact of urine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol.

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) contains respiratory irritants and has the potential to adversely affect adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but few studies have evaluated the impact of SHS on COPD.

Methods: We used data from 72 nonsmoking participants in a cohort study of COPD. Urine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) was measured as an indicator of longer term SHS exposure, whereas urine cotinine was assessed as a measure of more recent exposure.

Further exploration of the links between occupational exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: To examine occupational risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Methods: We randomly recruited 233 subjects aged 55 to 75 reporting a physician's diagnosis of COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. Interviews assessed cigarette smoking and longest held job, identifying exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes (VGDF).

American College of Chest Physicians consensus statement on the respiratory health effects of asbestos. Results of a Delphi study.

Background: The diagnosis of and criteria for the evaluation of asbestos-related disease impairment remains controversial after decades of research. Assessing agreement among experts who study pneumoconiosis, and diagnose and treat patients with asbestos-related respiratory conditions may be the first step in clarifying clinical and forensic/administrative issues associated with asbestos-related pulmonary conditions.

Methods: We conducted a Delphi study, an iterative method of obtaining consensus among a group of experts.

Altered pulmonary function in children with asthma associated with highway traffic near residence.

Cross-sectional analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to highway traffic on pulmonary function in Fresno, California. Traffic and spirometry data were available for 214 children (enrollment ages six to 11 years). Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relations between pulmonary function and traffic parameters.

Exposure to traffic: lung function and health status in adults with asthma.

Background: Exposure to traffic has been associated with asthma outcomes in children, but its effect on asthma in adults has not been well studied.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that lung function and health status are associated with traffic exposures.

Methods: We measured FEV(1) % predicted, general health status using the Physical Component Scale of the 12-item Short Form (SF-12 PCS), and quality of life (QoL) using the Marks Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire in a cohort of adults with asthma or rhinitis (n = 176; 145 with asthma).

Early-lifetime exposure to air pollution and allergic sensitization in children with asthma.

Observations on the association between exposure to common outdoor air pollutants and allergic sensitization have not been consistent. Little research has been done on the effects of prenatal exposure or the effect among asthmatics. The association between prenatal and early-life exposures and outdoor air pollutants with allergic sensitization was examined within a cohort of 170 children ages 6-11 years with asthma, living in the Central Valley of California.

Controlled exposure to combined particles and ozone decreases heart rate variability.

Objective: This experiment was designed to test if controlled exposure to particles and ozone would result in decreased heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: Five asthmatic adults were exposed for 4 hours to; filtered-air, carbon and ammonium nitrate particles, and particles and ozone. Twenty-minute electrocardiograms were obtained before and after each exposure.

Socioeconomic gradients in tiotropium use among adults with COPD.

Background: Inequalities in the use of new medications may contribute to health disparities. We analyzed socioeconomic gradients in the use of tiotropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In a cohort of adults with COPD aged > or = 55 years identified through population-based sampling, we elicited questionnaire responses on demographics, socioeconomic status (SES; lower SES defined as high school education or less or annual household income < US $20,000), and medication use and other clinical variables.

Diagnosis and management of work-related asthma: American College Of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement.

Background: A previous American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement on asthma in the workplace was published in 1995. The current Consensus Statement updates the previous one based on additional research that has been published since then, including findings relevant to preventive measures and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA).

Methods: A panel of experts, including allergists, pulmonologists, and occupational medicine physicians, was convened to develop this Consensus Document on the diagnosis and management of work-related asthma (WRA), based in part on a systematic review, that was performed by the University of Alberta/Capital Health Evidence-Based Practice and was supplemented by additional published studies to 2007.

Environmental public health tracking of childhood asthma using California health interview survey, traffic, and outdoor air pollution data.

Background: Despite extensive evidence that air pollution affects childhood asthma, state-level and national-level tracking of asthma outcomes in relation to air pollution is limited.

Objectives: Our goals were to evaluate the feasibility of linking the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), air monitoring, and traffic data; estimate associations between traffic density (TD) or outdoor air pollutant concentrations and childhood asthma morbidity; and evaluate the usefulness of such databases, linkages, and analyses to Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT).

Methods: We estimated TD within 500 feet of residential cross-streets of respondents and annual average pollutant concentrations based on monitoring station measurements.

Air pollution and pulmonary function in asthmatic children: effects of prenatal and lifetime exposures.

Background: Prenatal and early life periods represent critical windows for oxidant pollutant-induced lung remodeling. The objective of this study was to examine the association of prenatal and lifetime exposures to air pollutants with pulmonary function in a cohort of children with asthma.

Methods: Prenatal and lifetime exposure to several air pollutants was reconstructed for 232 children with asthma from the San Joaquin Valley of California, USA.

Brief secondhand smoke exposure depresses endothelial progenitor cells activity and endothelial function: sustained vascular injury and blunted nitric oxide production.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze the effects of acute secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) over 24 h.

Background: Secondhand smoke increases the risk of vascular disease and is a major public health concern, but the mechanism(s) of action are not fully understood.

Methods: Healthy nonsmokers (age SEM 30.

Is there an association between lifetime cumulative exposure and acute pulmonary responses to ozone?

Objective: To investigate the potential effects of lifetime cumulative ozone (O3) exposure on acute pulmonary responses to O3.

Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects from a larger cohort of young adults were exposed to 200 ppb O3 for 4 hours followed by bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage 18 hours later. Lung function, symptom questionnaires, and blood samples were obtained before and after each exposure.