Increased occurrence of respiratory symptoms is associated with indoor climate risk indicators - a cross-sectional study in a Swedish population.

Background: A basic assumption was that exposure to the indoor environment would increase the manifestation of respiratory symptoms in predisposed individuals. The aim was to investigate the proportion of perceived respiratory symptoms attributed to specific environmental exposures, and associations related to indoor climate risk indicators, i.e.

An investigation of the housing environment for persons with asthma and persons without asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease affected by environmental factors that may increase symptoms that impact on a persons' well-being. An important issue in occupational therapy is to improve the relationship between a person's functional capacity and the physical environment. The aim of the study was to compare the housing environment of persons with asthma (cases, n = 49) and persons without asthma (controls, n = 48), with regard to building construction and condition, physical, chemical and biological factors, and cleaning routines.

Postal survey on asthma, chronic bronchitis and respiratory symptoms among adult Estonians and non-Estonians (FinEsS-study).

Background: According to the data of the population census held in Estonia in 1989, the resident population consisted of 61.5% Estonians and 38.5% non-Estonians, the majority of them being Russians--30.

Allergic sensitization among adults in Tallinn, Estonia.

Background: The prevalence of allergic sensitization has increased worldwide during recent years.

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of allergic sensitization and to evaluate the influence of age, gender, number of siblings, pet keeping in childhood, and residential area before the age of five on allergic sensitization among adolescents and adults aged 17-66 years in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. A cross-sectional study was carried out between March 1997 and December 1998.

Occupational therapy adaptation of the home environment in Sweden for people with asthma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of lung function, respiratory symptoms and indoor air quality after reducing allergens and indoor pollutants in the home environment of people with asthma (n = 21). A quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design with one group of participants was implemented. The interventions included removal of wall-to-wall carpets (n = 14) or improvement of indoor air exchange (n = 7).

Prevalence and risk factors for asthma and chronic bronchitis in the capitals Helsinki, Stockholm, and Tallinn.

The aim of this part of the FinEsS-studies was to assess whether differences existed in prevalence of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms between three Baltic capitals, and to examine risk factor profiles for respiratory conditions. In 1996, a postal survey was performed in these cities with a response rate of 72% in Stockholm, 76% in Helsinki, and 68% in Tallinn. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 76% in Stockholm, 6.

Asthma, chronic bronchitis and respiratory symptoms among adults in Estonia according to a postal questionnaire.

Epidemiological studies indicate a lower prevalence of asthma in Eastern than Western Europe. This study of the prevalence of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms was performed in three different regions of Estonia, a state incorporated in the Soviet Union until 1991. A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 24,307 of the population aged 15-64 years.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure during childhood is associated with increased prevalence of asthma in adults.

Objective: To examine if exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during childhood has an impact on asthma prevalence in adults, and to identify the amount of nuisance from ETS and other lower airway irritants (LAWIs) in a city population.

Design: A postal survey.

Setting: The municipality of Orebro, Sweden.

Effect of 1 year daily treatment with 400 microg budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) in newly diagnosed asthmatics.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with a low daily dose of 400 microg inhaled budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) in newly diagnosed asthmatics could influence the course of asthma. Seventy five adult patients, mostly with mild asthma, diagnosed during the previous year and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, participated in a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group multicentre study. They were treated with budesonide 200 microg b.

Atopic allergy to chloramine-T and the demonstration of specific IgE antibodies by the radioallergosorbent test.

Chloramine-T is a small molecular oxidizing agent that has been widely used as a disinfectant since the beginning of this century. It is generally used in a 5% solution but it is also supplied in powder form. Sporadic case reports of immediate-type sensitization to this agent associated with symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and urticaria have appeared during recent decades.

Comparison of dose-response effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate and budesonide in the management of asthma.

The dose-response effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and budesonide (BUD) administered b.i.d.

Corynebacterium parvum in malignant pleural effusion. A randomized prospective study.

In a randomized trial, pleurodesis was attempted with Corynebacterium parvum in one group and bleomycin in another. Patients with malignant pleural effusion which required repeated drainage were treated with instillation of one of these agents after complete drainage of the pleural effusion. There were 32 patients who could be evaluated.

Clinical study of broncholytic effect and side-effects of isoetharine ('Numotac').

In thirty-nine adult asthmatics a clinical trial was carried out with 10 mg slow-release tablets of isoetharine ('Numotac', 3M Riker) at two dose levels: 10 mg and 20 mg four times a day. The trial was double-blind with crossover after six weeks. Twenty-three patients reported a positive effect on their respiratory symptoms when isoetharine had replaced their previous treatment; negative effect was reported by one patient while twelve patients were undecided.

The effect of pretreatment with atropine in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Because asthmatics who exhibit exercise-induced bronchonconstriction are also known to be sensitive to the cholinergic drug methacholine, an attempt was made in this study to block exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in nine asthmatics with a known history of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction by pretreatment with atropine. Inhalation of atropine before exercise produced milder exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in three of the nine asthmatics and a total inhibition of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in two patients. The remaining four asthmatics still exhibited bronchoconstriction during exercise, despite pretreatment with atropine.

The correlation between exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and bronchial methacholine sensitivity in asthma.

A possible relationship between exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and bronchial sensitivity to the cholinergic drug, metacholine, was studied. On the same day, 57 asthmatic subjects inhaled increasing concentrations of the drug and were then tested for EIB by exercising to exhaustion. A fall in peak expiratory flow rate of 15% or more was considered a positive reaction to either test.

Course and severity of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis in a local Swedish population sample.

A population sample between 35 and 54 years of age with chronic obstructive lung disease was investigated. The material consisted of 86 persons with bronchial asthma (without chronic bronchitis), 69 with chronic bronchitis (without asthma) and 30 with a combination of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma. Of the 116 asthmatics 51 had reaginic bronchial allergy.

Ventilatory capacity, working capacity and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in a population sample of subjects with bronchial asthma or chronic bronchitis.

We have studied a representative population sample comprising 185 persons, aged 35-54 years, having certain respiratory symptoms and considered to have chronic bronchitis and/or bronchial asthma. There were 86 with bronchial asthma (without chronic bronchitis), 69 with chronic bronchitis (without asthma) and 30 with both chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma. Fifty-one of the 116 asthmatics had reaginic bronchial allergy.

Reaginic bronchial allergy and the occurrence of reagins against mites in a representative sample of a local Swedish population.

This study involves an investigation of 185 subjects, aged 35--54 years, a representative sample of persons with chronic obstructive lung disease in a local Swedish population. Bronchial asthma was diagnosed in 86 persons, chronic bronchitis in 69 and a combination of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis in 30. Reaginic bronchial allergy as a provoking factor was considered as definite when the case history, an intracutaneous test, a bronchial provocation test and a radioallergosorbent test were all positive with regard to one and the same allergen.