Short-term association between exposure to ozone and mortality in Oporto, Portugal

Exposures to air pollution in developed countries have generally decreased over the last two decades. However, many recent epidemiological studies have consistently shown positive associations between low-level exposure to air pollutants and health outcomes. In Portugal, very few studies have analysed the acute effect of air pollutants on health.The present study evaluates the association between exposure to air pollution and daily mortality in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, Portugal. Generalised additive models were used for this analysis. Pollutants assessed were ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter (PM₁₀). Models were adjusted for time trend, seasonality, and weather.We report that an increase of 10 μg/m³ in the daily ozone 8-h maximum moving-average corresponds to an increase of 0.95% (95%CI: 0.30, 1.60) and 1.58% (95%CI: 0.45, 2.73) in non-accidental mortality and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, in the summer season. A significant effect of 0.67% (95% CI: 0.03:1.32) was also found for the association between PM₁₀ and non-accidental mortality in the summer season. Associations with ozone and PM₁₀ exposures were higher in the elderly people. No significant effects on mortality were observed during the summer season with nitrogen dioxide exposures.Our analyses provide the first significant evidence in Oporto that exposures to O₃ and PM₁₀ have adverse effects on the health of the general population in the summer months.     

Atmospheric particulate matter and ozone under heat-wave conditions: do they cause an increase of mortality in Croatia?

In August 2003 Croatia experienced a heat-wave period during which elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) and ozone in ambient air were measured. By applying the model of Stedman and Rooney et al., it was shown that a significant part of excess mortality during this period can be attributed to PM10 and ozone in ambient air.     

Ambient ozone concentration and hospital admissions due to childhood respiratory diseases in New York State, 1991-2001

Background and objective

Respiratory diseases constitute one of the leading causes of ill health among children in New York State (NYS). The current project, a component of the NYS Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, investigated a potential association between ambient ozone (O₃) concentration and childhood respiratory hospital admissions over 11 years in NYS.

Methods

We used a two-stage Bayesian hierarchical model to assess the exposure-disease associations within 11 geographic regions and statewide. The data included total daily hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases for children 0-17 years old from 1991 to 2001 in NYS (N=134,099) and daily ambient O₃ level with different single-day lags. These analyses adjusted for particulate matter ?10 μm in size (PM₁₀), meteorological conditions, day of the week, seasonality, long-term trends, and demographic characteristics.

Results

In 5 of the 11 regions, including the Upper and Lower Adirondacks, Upper Hudson Valley, Staten Island, and New York City, positive associations were found between respiratory hospital admissions and ambient O₃ level 2 days prior to the admission. Applying different statistical methods and sensitivity analysis of PM₁₀ did not alter these findings. When region-specific results were combined, no statewide association was apparent.

Conclusions

Geographic differences were found in the associations between O₃ levels and respiratory hospital admissions among children. In addition, we found that the two-stage model may be an appropriate approach for tracking the health effects of air pollution over time in different geographic areas when heterogeneity of risk factors across regions is present.     

Ozone oxidative preconditioning inhibits inflammation and apoptosis in a rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion injury, which is commonly seen in the field of renal surgery or transplantation, is a major cause of acute renal failure. Previous studies showed that ozone oxidative preconditioning (OzoneOP) attenuated renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. The objective of this study was to examine the role of the OzoneOP in modulating inflammation and apoptosis after renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rats were subjected to 45 min of renal ischemia, with or without treatment with OzoneOP (1 mg/kg). Renal function, inflammation and apoptosis were compared at 24 h after renal injury. OzoneOP improved the renal dysfunction and reduced inflammation and apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion injury. In conclusion, OzoneOP has potent anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings may have major implications in the treatment of human ischemic acute renal failure.     

Anticlastogenic effect of diosgenin on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene treated experimental animals

The maintenance of stable test atmospheres in small-volume inhalation systems such as a nose-only exposure manifold requires rapid and appropriate responses to fluctuations in a number of parameters. For example, changes in flows or voltages can affect test compound generation efficiency and gas dilution ratios, resulting in excursions of the test concentration outside an acceptable range. A feedback control loop was designed that makes use of mass flow controllers in maintaining the target concentration of a test compound. The system was tested by generating ozone in a nose-only exposure manifold. An ozone analyzer provided updated concentration values every 30 s, which were compared to the user-defined target concentration recorded in the interface readout box. Values of gain, integral, and lead determining an appropriate response of the controller to concentration fluctuations were implemented based on proportional-integral-derivative control algorithms. Using this approach, the flow of ozone mixed with dilution air into the system was adjusted as required without user intervention, minimizing concentration overshoots upon system startup, maintaining an ozone concentration within a range 5% of the target concentration, and responding rapidly and efficiently to line disturbances.     

臭氧盘内配合曲安奈德颈深筋膜间隙注射治疗神经根型颈椎病

目的探讨利用臭氧盘内注射配合曲安奈德颈深筋膜间隙注射治疗神经根型颈椎病的临床效果。方法将收治的60例神经根型颈椎病患者随机分为二组,比较MacNab评价和VAS评分差异。结果通过改良的MacNab疗效评价标准J和VAS评分,联合组在术后7天和3个月治疗效果明显优于臭氧组。结论臭氧盘内注射配合曲安奈德颈深筋膜间隙注射治疗神经根型颈椎病疗效优于单一臭氧治疗,值得临床推广应用。     

微创联合针刀松解术治疗椎间盘源性下腰痛疗效分析

目的 探讨微创联合针刀松解术治疗椎间盘源性下腰痛的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2009年10月至201 1年10月因下腰痛采用经皮臭氧腰椎间盘髓核化学溶解术32例患者(对照组)和该术结合针刀松解术治疗30例患者(观察组)的临床资料.对照组患者仅采用经皮腰椎间盘髓核化学溶解术治疗,观察组在对照组治疗的基础上,透视下对责任椎间盘节段软组织粗条索状改变及不规则结节处行针刀松解术.术后1周、6个月根据视觉模拟评分(VAS)、改良Macnab法进行疗效评定.结果 2组患者均完成随访.2组患者治疗后1周、6个月VAS均明显低于治疗前[对照组:(2.4±1.2)、(2.4±1.6)分比(5.4±1.2)分;观察组:(2.0±1.1)、(1.6±1.2)分比(5.3±1.3)分],差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.01);术后1周观察组与对照组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),术后6个月观察组明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).对照组治疗后6个月优良率为65.6％ (21/32),观察组优良率为76.7％(23/30),组间优良率比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 经皮微创治疗腰椎间盘源性下腰痛安全、可行,结合针刀松解术疗效显著.     

射频热凝联合三氧注射治疗带状疱疹后神经痛

目的观察射频热凝联合皮内臭氧注射治疗带状疱疹后神经痛的疗效。方法50侧带状疤疹后神经痛患者,随机分成2组,单纯药物治疗组后（A组,25例）,射频热凝联合臭氧注射组（B组,25例）,采用视觉模拟评分（VAS）,分别对治疗前、后VAS评分进行统计分析。结果治疗后VAS比较,B组VAS评分明显低于A组（P〈0．05）,B组总有效率100％明显高于A组88％（22／25例）。结论射频热凝联合皮下臭氧注射是治疗带状疱疹后神经痛的有效方法。