Childhood asthma and indoor allergen exposure and sensitization in Buffalo, New York

This nested case-control study examined the association between prevalent asthma and indoor allergen sensitization and/or exposure among children (aged 5-17 years) in Buffalo, New York. The study included a self-administered questionnaire, clinical interviews, skin allergen sensitivity tests and home dust sampling for house dust mites, cat, dog, cockroach and mouse allergens. After adjusting for multiple confounders, asthma cases had higher odds of being sensitized to Der p dust mites (odds ratio [OR]=1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-3.35), cat (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.13-3.39), or dog allergens (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.10-3.22) than the controls. A significantly positive association between asthma status presence of cat allergen in the child's mattress (ORs: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.09-6.28) was also found. Children with both sensitization and environmental exposure to cat allergens had higher odds of asthma (OR=7.08, 95% CI: 2.12-23.62) than those who were only sensitized to cat allergen (OR=2.31, 95% CI: 1.01-5.32) or had only home exposures (OR=1.47, 95% CI: 0.47-4.65). The association between allergen sensitization and asthma was more consistent than for home exposures. The findings help to confirm the role of allergen sensitization and home exposure in regard to asthma, and suggest that both, individually and jointly, are associated with asthma.     

#24 Infant eczema: Association with ethnicity and feeding practices

PURPOSE: To investigate the development of infant eczema in an ethnically diverse population. Infant feeding practices including age at introduction of solid food and duration of breastfeeding were considered as predictors.METHODS: A cohort of 885 infants, each with an asthmatic sibling, was enrolled in a prospective study within 3 months of birth. Mothers were recontacted when the child was 12 months old and reported the development of eczema, allergy and asthma. Adjusted odds ratios and confidence limits were estimated using logistic regression models.RESULTS: Hispanic children were less likely to develop eczema (12%) than either white (27%) or black (27%) children (OR 0.5 95% CI 0.3, 0.9). However, children whose mothers graduated from college were most likely to develop eczema (33%) and children whose mothers did not complete high school (12%) were least likely (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.2, 5.0). The development of eczema was associated with reactions to solid food (OR 2.1 95% CI 1.3, 3.4) and development of allergies that cause “cold-like” symptoms (OR 1.6 95% CI 1.1, 2.5). Breastfeeding (⩾6 months), age at which formula was first given, and introduction of solid food before 3 months were not associated with eczema, nor were child's gender or maternal or paternal history of allergies or asthma.CONCLUSION: Children of higher socioeconomic status were more likely to develop eczema, but black children had the same risk as whites, while Hispanic children were protected. Breastfeeding did not prevent the development of eczema and introduction of solid food before 3 months was not harmful.     

Danish pupils' perceived satisfaction with the health dialogue: Associations with the office and work procedure of the school health nurse

The aim is to identify how environmental factors, perceivedby the pupils, are associated with the pupils' perceived satisfactionwith a good health dialogue. This article focuses on the pupils'perception of the health office and the work procedure of theschool health nurses. The present article is based on data fromthe 1994 Danish part of the WHO-collaborative study Health Behaviourin School-aged Children. A nation-wide random sample of pupils11, 13 and 15 years old (n = 4046) answered a standardized questionnaireabout perceived health, health behaviour, social situation,the school as a workplace and the health dialogue. The finalmodel of the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealedeight predictor variables of perceived satisfaction with thehealth dialogue and three confounder variables. The predictorswere: comfortable health office OR = 1.20 (95% CI 1.11–1.30),pupils sat by the desk OR = 1.12 (95% CI 1.03–1.23), pupilsinfluenced the content of the dialogue yes/no: OR = 1.43 (95%CI 1.27–1.60), yes/don't know: OR = 0.80 (95% CI 0.72–0.89),sufficient time OR = 1.33 (95% CI 1.23–1.44), the schoolhealth nurse listened carefully OR = 1.24 (95% CI 1.13–1.35),the school health nurse talked a lot OR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.85–0.98),gave good advice OR = 1.28 (95% CI 1.18–1.43), let thepupils talk OR = 1.17 (95% CI 1.07–1.28). The confounderswere: pupils' sex: female OR = 1.23 (95% CI 1.14–1.33);and age: low age OR = 1.20 (95% CI 1.07–1.35) or highage OR = 0.84 (95% CI 0.76–0.93), but not medium age,high school satisfaction OR = 1.53 (95% CI 1.31–1.77),and low school satisfaction OR = 0.74 (95% CI 0.63–0.87).     

Self-Reported Moisture or Mildew in the Homes of Head Start Children with Asthma is Associated with Greater Asthma Morbidity

This study used results from a cross-sectional survey of parents of 3- to 5-year-old children with asthma to assess the frequency of self-reported home environmental conditions that could contribute to worsening asthma and examined the relationship between these factors and the child's asthma morbidity. Participants were 149 parents drawn from the two largest agencies that provide subsidized preschool childcare services in East and Central Harlem, inner-city communities with high prevalence of asthma. The sample represented 77% of eligibles determined by a validated case-identification instrument. Data were collected on demographics, symptoms, medication use, Emergency Department visits and hospitalization, and environmental conditions in the home. One or more of these home environmental conditions were reported by 92% of participants. Controlling for other environmental conditions and demographics, associations were found between self-reported presence of moisture or mildew on ceilings, walls, or windows and higher frequency of hospitalizations for breathing-related problems (OR = 3.31; 95% CI 1.62–6.75), frequent episodes of wheezing (OR = 3.25; 95% CI 1.8–6.0), and higher frequency of night symptoms due to asthma (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.4–3.41). Having a carpet or rug in the child's bedroom or the living room was also associated with hospitalizations (OR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.53–6.8), and male gender was marginally associated with the frequency of night symptoms (OR = 1.51; 95% CI .95–2.4). Asthma is prevalent in the Head Start population, and exposure to home environmental conditions that may worsen asthma is common in the socially disadvantaged populations served by Head Start programs. Drs. Bonner PhD, Matte and Fagan and Ms. Andreopoulus are with the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies (CUES) of the New York Academy of Medicine.     

Pooled analysis of two case–control studies on use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours diagnosed in 1997–2003

Objectives: To study the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours. Methods: Two case–control studies on malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1997–2003 included answers from 905 (90%) cases and 2,162 (89%) controls aged 20–80 years. We present pooled analysis of the results in the two studies. Results: Cumulative lifetime use for >2,000 h yielded for analogue cellular phones odds ratio (OR)=5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.5–14, digital cellular phones OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.7–7.7, and for cordless phones OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.5–3.6. Ipsilateral exposure increased the risk for malignant brain tumours; analogue OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.5–2.9, digital OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.4–2.4, and cordless OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3–2.2. For high-grade astrocytoma using >10 year latency period analogue phones yielded OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.8–4.2, digital phones OR=3.8, 95% CI=1.8–8.1, and cordless phones OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.3–3.9. In the multivariate analysis all phone types increased the risk. Regarding digital phones OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.5–9.1 and cordless phones OR=2.1, 95% CI=0.97–4.6 were calculated for malignant brain tumours for subjects with first use use <20 years of age, higher than in older persons. Conclusion: Increased risk was obtained for both cellular and cordless phones, highest in the group with >10 years latency period.     

Childhood asthma in Beijing,China: a population-based case-control study

China is the most populous country in the world. Few studies, however, have been conducted there to investigate the risk factors for childhood asthma. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Shunyi County, People's Republic of China, in January 1999 and March 2001 to investigate the issue. An increased risk of childhood asthma was associated with smoking by relatives in front of the mother while she was pregnant with the child (odds ratio (OR) = 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 1.6) and with smoking by relatives in front of the child (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9). The risk increased with the increasing number of smokers and the total minutes of smoking by relatives in front of both the child and the mother while she was pregnant with the child. An increased risk was observed for use of coal for heating (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9). Those who reported using coal for cooking without ventilation also had an increased risk (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5, 3.5). An increased risk was observed for those who reported having molds or fungi on the ceilings of their houses (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.9) or inside the child's room (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.2). An increased risk was also found for those having both a dog and a cat as pets (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.3) or for finding both cockroaches and rats inside their houses (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.8).     

Return to work expectation predicts work in chronic musculoskeletal and behavioral health disorders: Prospective study with clinical implications

Study Design: Prospective cohort study with 18-month follow-up. Objective: To investigate if long-term sick listed persons’ own predictions of their future return to work (RTW) have an impact on their RTW when controlling for other established factors. Method: Postal questionnaires at baseline were sent to persons who had been on sick leave for more than 90 days, and were employed in five municipalities and four county councils in Sweden. A follow-up regarding their RTW was performed 18 months later. Results: After 18 months 135 out of 508 persons (27%) had returned to work, full or part-time. In a multivariate logistic regression, the sick listed persons’ own prediction of their RTW proved to be highly significant (OR=8.28, 95% CI: 3.31–20.69). Only six out of 132 persons with a negative view of their RTW did return to wok. Other predictive factors that were found for RTW were: being on sick leave for a period of less than 1 year (OR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.19–3.67), having less pain than persons in the quartile with most pain (OR=2.65, 95% CI: 1.21–5.81), perceiving that one was welcome back to work (OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.10–3.58), and being under 55 years of age (OR=2.37, 95% CI: 1.07–5.23 for age between 45 and 54 years and the same trend for age below 45 years OR=1.85, 95% CI: 0.82–4.20). Conclusion: Persons with a positive prediction should get help to realise their potential for RTW. Offering traditional rehabilitation measures to a person with a negative prediction of his/her RTW, could be a waste of resources if done ahead of improving self-confidence and view of what is possible. The problems in this group might decrease or be easier to handle if decisions about the future are taken within a year.     

The association between mental health problems and inflammatory conditions across gender and immigrant status: a population-based cross-sectional study among 10th-grade students

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of and investigate the association between mental health problems, asthma, allergy and eczema in Norwegian and immigrant youths. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of all 10th-grade students in Oslo, Norway, in two school years; 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. Of the 8316 eligible students, 7345 (88.3%) participated. Internalized mental problems were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Check List 10-version, and two subscales of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire were used to study externalizing mental health problems. All questions are based on self-report, and 25% of the sample had an immigrant background. RESULTS: Immigrant boys had higher scores on internalizing problems than Norwegian boys. First-generation immigrants reported less asthma and eczema than Norwegians. The strongest association between mental health problems and inflammatory conditions was for allergy and internalizing problems for boys (odds ratio (OR)=2.5 for immigrants and OR=1.8 for Norwegians). For girls, it was allergy in Norwegians (OR=1.6) and asthma for immigrants (OR=2.2). For externalizing problems, the association was strongest for asthma in boys and eczema in girls. Immigrant boys had stronger associations between number of inflammatory conditions and internalizing mental health problems than Norwegians (OR=3.2 vs. OR=2.4). Among girls, the figures were 1.7 for Norwegians and 1.8 for immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between number of inflammatory conditions and internalizing mental health problems, especially among boys with an immigrant background. The association with externalizing mental health problems was less prominent.     

Injection drug use and HIV/AIDS in China: Review of current situation, prevention and policy implications

There is growing evidence of the public health and community harms associated with crack cocaine smoking, particularly the risk of blood-borne transmission through non-parenteral routes. In response, community advocates and policy makers in Vancouver, Canada are calling for an exemption from Health Canada to pilot a medically supervised safer smoking facility (SSF) for non-injection drug users (NIDU). Current reluctance on the part of health authorities is likely due to the lack of existing evidence surrounding the extent of related harm and potential uptake of such a facility among NIDUs in this setting. In November 2004, a feasibility study was conducted among 437 crack cocaine smokers. Univariate analyses were conducted to determine associations with willingness to use a SSF and logistic regression was used to adjust for potentially confounding variables (p < 0.05). Variables found to be independently associated with willingness to use a SSF included recent injection drug use (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.09–2.70), having equipment confiscated or broken by police (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.24–2.85), crack bingeing (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.39–3.12), smoking crack in public places (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.65–3.27), borrowing crack pipes (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.86–3.40), and burns/ inhaled brillo due to rushing smoke in public places (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 2.71–8.64). The results suggest a strong potential for a SSF to reduce the health related harms and address concerns of public order and open drug use among crack cocaine smokers should a facility be implemented in this setting.     

Impact of health education on health-related quality of life among elderly persons: results from a community-based intervention study in rural Bangladesh

This study examines the change in health-related quality oflife (HRQoL) among (60 years) elderly persons as a result ofhealth education intervention. A community-based interventionstudy was performed in eight randomly selected villages (Intervention:n = 4; Control: n = 4) in rural Bangladesh. A total of 1135elderly persons was selected for this study. The analyses include839 participants (Intervention: n = 425; Control: n = 414) whoparticipated in both baseline and post-intervention surveys.Participants in the intervention area were further stratifiedinto compliant (n = 315) and non-compliant (n = 110) groupsbased on the reported compliance to the intervention activities.The intervention includes, for example, physical activity, adviceon healthy food intake and other aspects of management. To createan enabling environment, social awareness was provided by meansof information about the contribution of and challenges facedby elderly persons at home and the community, including informationabout elderly persons' health and health care. The interventionactivities were provided to the elderly persons, caregivers,household members and community people for 15 months. The HRQoLwas assessed using a multi-dimensional generic instrument designedfor elderly persons. Multivariate analyses revealed that inthe non-compliant group the probabilities of increased scoreswere less likely in overall HRQoL (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.82).Among the Control group, increased scores were less likely inthe physical (OR 73, 95% CI 0.54–0.99), social (OR 0.37,95% CI 0.27–0.50), spiritual (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.34–0.94),environment (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26–0.49) dimensions andoverall HRQoL (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32–0.59) (adjusted forage, sex, literacy, marital status and economic status). Thisstudy concludes that provision of community-based health educationintervention might be a potential public health initiative toenhance the HRQoL in old age.     

Atopic and non-atopic asthma in a farming and a general population

BACKGROUND: In a previous study inverse associations between asthma and exposure to fungal spores and endotoxins in atopic farmers and positive associations with the same factors in non-atopic farmers were documented. No external reference population had been included. We, therefore, compared this farming population with the general population from an adjacent region. METHODS: Random samples of a farming (n=2,106) and a rural (n=351) and urban (n=727) general population were selected. Atopy was assessed by serum IgE and asthma by questionnaires. RESULTS: The asthma prevalence was 4.0% among farmers, 5.7% in the rural, and 7.6% in the urban population. Atopy was similar (9-10%). Most asthmatics were not atopic, 67-75%. Farmers had asthma less often than the general population OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.36-0.75); both atopic (OR 0.33 (95% CI 0.15-0.69)) and non-atopic asthma (OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.39-0.93)). CONCLUSION: This may indicate a protective effect of the farm environment on asthma but a healthy worker effect may also play a role.     

History of allergic disease and epilepsy and risk of glioma and meningioma (INTERPHONE study group,Germany)

The aim of the present analysis was to examine the association of a medical history of asthma, hay fever, eczema, or epilepsy with the risk of glioma and meningioma. Data of a German population-based case–control study included 381 meningioma cases, 366 glioma cases, and 1,494 controls. Participants’ histories of asthma, hay fever, eczema, and epilepsy and the respective ages at onset were asked during a personal interview. A small inverse association between allergic condition and both glioma (odds ratio: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.70–1.22) and meningioma (odd ratio: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.66–1.14) was found. For glioma, this inverse association was more pronounced in persons reporting to have asthma compared to other allergic conditions. The positive association between epilepsy and particularly glioma suggests that epilepsy is an early symptom of the disease. As the association was seen also for epilepsies occurring more than a decade before the diagnosis of glioma, this might indicate either an aetiological role of epilepsy, or a relatively long preclinical phase. In conclusion our study confirms previous findings of case control studies but not those from cohort studies. However, possible selection bias in case control studies might not explain the different results in its entirety.     

Occupation and Risk for the Occurrence of Low-Back Pain (LBP) in Danish Employees

Using data from a nation-wide cross-sectional survey in 1990a study examining the risk for occurrence of LBP in variousspecific occupations was made among 5,185 Danish employees aged19–59 years old. After adjusting for the confounding effectsof age and gender we found significantly increased risks ofLBP in three out of nine major occupational categories. Theywere, ‘health care and social work’ (OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.28–1.80), ‘mining, quarrying and constructionwork’ (OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.41–2.74) and ‘manufacturingand machine operation work’ (OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.05–1.40).Among 39 second-level occupational categories the highest riskswere observed among persons employed in ‘building constructionwork’ (OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.41–2.74), ‘socialwork, child day care work and psychological work’ (OR=1.64,95% CI=1.32–2.05). Skilled and unskilled manual workershad an increased risk of LBP. Received       10 March 1995 Accepted        1 November 1995     

History of Arrest and Associated Factors among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Incarceration has been proposed to be a driving factor in the disproportionate impact of HIV in African-American communities. However, few data have been reported on disparities in criminal justice involvement by race among men who have sex with men (MSM). To describe history of arrest and associated factors among, we used data from CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system. Respondents were recruited by time–space sampling in venues frequented by MSM in 15 US cities from 2003 to 2005. Data on recent arrest (in the 12 months before the interview), risk behaviors, and demographic information were collected by face-to-face interview for MSM who did not report being HIV-positive. Six hundred seventy-nine (6.8%) of 10,030 respondents reported recent arrest. Compared with white MSM, black MSM were more likely to report recent arrest history (odds ratio (OR), 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3–2.1). Men who were less gay-identified (bisexual [OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1–1.9] or heterosexual [OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2–3.5]) were more likely to report recent arrest than homosexually identified men. In addition, men who reported arrest history were more likely to have used non-injection (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.4–3.6) and injection (OR, 4.7; 95%, 3.3–6.7) drugs, exchanged sex (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.1–3.4), and had a female partner (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2–2.0) in the 12 months before interview. Recent arrest was associated with insertive unprotected anal intercourse in the 12 months before interview (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.7). Racial differences in arrest seen in the general US population are also present among MSM, and history of arrest was associated with high-risk sex. Future research and interventions should focus on clarifying the relationship between criminal justice involvement and sexual risk among MSM, particularly black MSM.     

High caloric intake,poor cognition and dementia: the Caerphilly Prospective Study

To examine the hypothesis that caloric intake in mid-life is associated with later dementia or cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND). A prospective cohort study was conducted in Caerphilly, South Wales, United Kingdom. Men aged 45–59 years were identified from the electoral roll and general practice. 2,512 men were examined between July 1979 until September 1983. Four follow-up examinations were conducted every 4–5 years until 2004. Participants were categorized on the basis of their average daily caloric intake over each of the first three phases. Outcomes were CIND and dementia ascertained at phase five (2004). 192 men (15% of 1,248 participants at phase five) had CIND and 100 (8%) dementia. Age adjusted odds ratios demonstrated strongest associations between average energy consumption and vascular CIND or dementia (OR 1.62 95% CI 1.25–2.10). Adjustment for nutritional factors, vascular disease, diabetes, smoking, BP and BMI if anything increased the association (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.03–2.60). After adjusting for social class, associations were attenuated and consistent with chance (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.92–2.38). When adjusted for social class, the previously observed association between caloric intake and cognitive outcomes is modest, consistent with chance, and may be due to residual confounding.     

Acute myelocytic leukemia and prior allergies

The relationship between prior allergies and adult acute myelocytic leukemia was investigated in a population-based case-control study. Based on data from personal interviews of 98 cases and 133 controls, a history of any type of allergy was associated with a significantly decreased risk of acute myelocytic leukemia (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.20-0.60). Risk declined with the total number of specific allergies reported (p less than 0.001), and was reduced in relation to a history of prior asthma, eczema and hives. The implications of these findings in relation to natural immune surveillance against developing neoplasms are discussed.     

Association between personal exposure to volatile organic compounds and asthma among US adult population

Objectives There is growing concern about adverse respiratory health effects from exposure to indoor air pollution. The purpose of this study was to analyze association between exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) and asthma in adults. Methods This study utilized passive personal exposure data on ten VOC collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000. A total of 550 subjects who were of non-Hispanic whites, Mexican-Americans, or non-Hispanic Blacks race/ethnicity were included in this analysis. The primary outcome variable was physician-diagnosed asthma and the secondary outcome variable was presence of wheezing in the previous 12 months among those without physician-diagnosed asthma. Exploratory factor analysis was used to generate factor scores to group VOCs, which were included as indicator variables in the analyses. Associations between exposure to VOCs, physician-diagnosed asthma, and wheezing in the previous 12 months were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios are for 1-U increase in level of exposure. Results Seven of the ten VOC variables loaded on two factors, “aromatic compounds” and “chlorinated hydrocarbons.” The geometric mean concentration of VOCs varied from as low as 0.03 μg/m³ for trichloroethene to as high as 14.33 μg/m³ for toluene. Mexican-Americans had the highest personal exposures to benzene (geometric mean = 2.38 μg/m³) as compared to non-Hispanic whites (geometric mean = 1.15 μg/m³) and non-Hispanic Blacks (geometric mean = 1.07 μg/m³). The odds of physician-diagnosed asthma were significantly higher among those exposed to aromatic compounds (Adjusted OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17–2.27). Among those subjects never diagnosed by a physician to have asthma, a significantly increased odds of one to two wheezing attacks were observed for aromatic compounds (Adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.08–2.61) and chlorinated hydrocarbons (Adjusted OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.01–2.23) as compared to no wheezing. No association with three wheezing attacks or more was observed in the study. Conclusion In this cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the US population, environmental exposures to VOCs, especially aromatic compounds, were associated with adverse respiratory effects. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung diseases in iron ore miners: Report from the obstructive lung disease in northern Sweden studies

This is a population-based study on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms assessed by a mail questionnaire. The objective was to examine if work in an iron mine increased the risk of airway symptoms or obstructive diseases. The exposed group consisted of 114 previous or current male miners. Referents, 2472 males from the province, had never been employed by the mining company or worked as miners. Age, smoking and a family history of asthma were considered as possible confounders. The miners had an increased risk for respiratory symptoms (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.4–3.1) including recurrent wheeze (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.5–3.9), longstanding cough (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.0–3.2), and for physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.0–4.5). Attacks of shortness of breath and asthma manifestations were similar between miners and referents. Higher risks in miners were found particularly among the non-smokers for physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (OR=9.2, 95% CI=3.0–28) and for symptoms as well. A family history of asthma was less common among miners (9.2% vs. 17%, p < 0.05). We conclude that miners in a modern underground iron mine had an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. In contrast to other studies, this increased risk was particularly found in non-smokers. A family history of asthma may be an important confounder in occupational studies of respiratory diseases.     

Use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Objectives: To evaluate the use of cellular and cordless telephones as the risk factor for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Methods: Male and female subjects aged 18–74 years living in Sweden were included during a period from 1 December 1999 to 30 April 2002. Controls were selected from the national population registry. Exposure to different agents was assessed by questionnaire. Results: In total, 910 (91%) cases and 1016 (92%) controls participated. NHL of the B-cell type was not associated with the use of cellular or cordless telephones. Regarding T-cell NHL and >5 year latency period, the use of analogue cellular phones yielded: odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95%; confidence interval (CI) = 0.58–3.70, digital: OR=1.92, 95%; CI=0.77–4.80 and cordless phones: OR=2.47; CI=1.09–5.60. The corresponding results for certain, e.g. cutaneous and leukaemia, T-cell lymphoma for analogue phones were: OR=3.41, 95%; CI=0.78–15.0, digital: OR=6.12, 95%; CI=1.26–29.7 and cordless phones: OR=5.48, 95%; CI=1.26–23.9. Conclusions: The results indicate an association between T-cell NHL and the use of cellular and cordless telephones, however based on low numbers and must be interpreted with caution. Regarding B-cell NHL no association was found.     

Association of Anemia with Activities of Daily Living in Chinese Female Centenarians

Although anemia and activities of daily living (ADL) disability in female elderly are common conditions and are more likely to occur as people age, little is known about the association of anemia with ADL in female centenarians. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between anemia and ADL disability in Chinese female centenarians. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of a sample of 822 Chinese female centenarians from 2014 to 2016. Blood analysis, home interview, and physical examination were performed following standard procedures. ADL disability was defined as a Barthel Index total score≤60. The prevalence of anemia and ADL disability were 66.8% and 29.7% respectively in Chinese female centenarians. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that inflammation (OR = 2.280, 95% CI, 1.524–3.410), underweight (OR = 1.653, 95% CI, 1.186–2.303), anemia (OR = 1.775, 95% CI, 1.250–2.521), and living with family (OR = 0.518, 95% CI, 0.302–0.888) were significant factors related to ADL disability. Centenarians with severe anemia had an approximately fourfold greater likelihood of ADL disability than those without anemia (OR =3.747; 95% CI 1.525–9.206). An apparent dose-response relationship was found between anemia and ADL disability. These findings may provide some insights into targeted intervention for maintaining ADL independence in female centenarians, especially encouraging the interventions of anemia to improve ADL.