scholarly journals Decreased Pulmonary Function Measured in Children Exposed to High Environmental Relative Moldiness Index Homes

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Vesper ◽  
Larry Wymer ◽  
Suzanne Kennedy ◽  
L. Faye Grimsley

Background: Exposures to water-damaged homes/buildings has been linked to deficits in respiratory health. However, accurately quantifying this linkage has been difficult because of the methods used to assess water damage and respiratory health. Purpose: The goal of this analysis was to determine the correlation between the water-damage, as defined by the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) value in an asthmatic child’s home, and the child’s pulmonary function measured by spirometry, “forced expiratory volume in one second, percent predicted” or FEV1%. Methods: This analysis utilized data obtained from the “Heads-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana” (HEAL) study. The children (n= 109), 6 to 12 years of age, who had completed at least one spirometry evaluation and a dust sample collected for ERMI analysis from the home at approximately the same time as the spirometry testing, were included in the analysis. Statistical evaluation of the correlation between ERMI values and FEV1% was performed using the Spearman’s Rank Correlation analysis. The relationship between ERMI values and FEV1% was performed using B-spline regression. Results: The average ERMI value in the HEAL study homes was 7.3. For homes with ERMI values between 2.5 and 15, there was a significant inverse correlation with the child’s lung function or FEV1% measurement (Spearman’s rho -0.23; p= 0.03), i.e. as the ERMI value increased, the FEV1% value decreased. Conclusions: Measures of water-damage (the ERMI) and clinical assessments of lung function (FEV1%) provided a quantitative assessment of the impact of water-damaged home exposures on children’s respiratory health.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Anca Hâncu ◽  
Florin Mihălţan

Abstract Not so much emphasize in literature and studies, obesity consequences on respiratory function may influence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD and asthma, triggering important healthcare issues. Pulmonary function is a mortality predictor. The largest populational study European Community Respiratory Health Survey shows the impact of overweight and obesity on pulmonary function by decreasing forced expiratory volume in first second FEV1 and forced vital capacity FVC. By the contrary, weight loss is decreasing both. Inflammatory and mechanical mechanisms should be considered in lung function impairment, as a consequence of obesity. Important aspect, lifestyle, will consider tobacco, physical activity, diet. Adopting a healthy lifestyle with a Mediterranean Diet MD will preserve a good pulmonary function on long term. We detailed below specific dietary recommendations, favorable nutrients or foods to be avoided. In conclusion comprehensive lifestyle interventions should become populational based interventions for a better prevention for pulmonary diseases and NCD’s and finally for a better health status.


2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan ◽  
James A Dosman ◽  
Karen M Semchuk ◽  
Helen H McDuffie ◽  
Allan J Cessna ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE:To assess the changes in respiratory health from winter to summer seasons in a rural population.DESIGN:A longitudinal design was used in the study.SETTING:A population-based study was conducted as part of the Environmental Pesticide Exposure and Human Health component of the Prairie Ecosystem Study (PECOS) in southwestern Saskatchewan.PATIENTS:In the winter season, 358 patients participated in the study. Of these patients, 234 returned for the second assessment during the summer season. After excluding 34 children aged 17 years and under, 200 adult patients were available for analysis.MEASUREMENTS:Questionnaires were used to obtain information on demographic factors, smoking habits, occupational and environmental exposures, and respiratory conditions. Pulmonary function measurements were obtained using a volume displacement spirometer.RESULTS:Mean ages (± SD) of the 106 men and 94 women participating in the study were 50.1±13.3 and 49.0±13.1 years, respectively. Mean percentage changes in maximal midexpiratory flow rate from winter to summer assessments indicated an improvement for town residents and a decline for farm residents. Mean percentage changes in the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity indicated an improvement for town residents who were not engaged in farming, and increasing declines for town residents engaged in farming, farm residents not engaged in farming and farm residents engaged in farming.CONCLUSIONS:Seasonal changes occurred in measurements of pulmonary function between winter and summer seasons; these changes may be related to the environmental or occupational exposures experienced by the participants during the study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 1801795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herman T. den Dekker ◽  
Kimberley Burrows ◽  
Janine F. Felix ◽  
Lucas A. Salas ◽  
Ivana Nedeljkovic ◽  
...  

RationaleWe aimed to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in cord blood DNA associated with childhood lung function, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across the life course.MethodsWe meta-analysed epigenome-wide data of 1688 children from five cohorts to identify cord blood DMRs and their annotated genes, in relation to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC at ages 7–13 years. Identified DMRs were explored for associations with childhood asthma, adult lung function and COPD, gene expression and involvement in biological processes.ResultsWe identified 59 DMRs associated with childhood lung function, of which 18 were associated with childhood asthma and nine with COPD in adulthood. Genes annotated to the top 10 identified DMRs were HOXA5, PAOX, LINC00602, ABCA7, PER3, CLCA1, VENTX, NUDT12, PTPRN2 and TCL1A. Differential gene expression in blood was observed for 32 DMRs in childhood and 18 in adulthood. Genes related with 16 identified DMRs were associated with respiratory developmental or pathogenic pathways.InterpretationOur findings suggest that the epigenetic status of the newborn affects respiratory health and disease across the life course.


Respiration ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Pierre-Henri Aussedat ◽  
Nader Chebib ◽  
Kais Ahmad ◽  
Jean-Charles Glerant ◽  
Gabrielle Drevet ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Video-assisted surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is performed in 10–30% of cases to establish the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of SLB on lung function in patients eventually diagnosed with IPF. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is an observational, retrospective, monocentric study of all consecutive patients eventually diagnosed with IPF in multidisciplinary discussion who underwent SLB over 10 years in a specialized center. The primary end point was the variation in forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after the SLB. The secondary end points were the variations in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), and morbidity and mortality associated with the SLB. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In 118 patients who underwent SLB and were diagnosed with IPF, a relative decrease in FVC of 4.8% (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) was found between measurements performed before and after the procedure. The mean FVC decrease was 156 ± 386 mL in an average period of 185 days, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year. A significant decrease was also observed after SLB in FEV1, TLC, and DLCO. Complications within 30 days of SLB occurred in 14.4% of patients. Two patients (1.7%) died within 30 days, where one of them had poor lung function. Survival at 1 year was significantly poorer in patients with FVC &#x3c;50% at baseline. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this uncontrolled study in patients ultimately diagnosed with IPF, SLB was followed by a significant decline in FVC, which appears to be numerically greater than the average decline in the absence of treatment in the literature. <b><i>Summary at a Glance:</i></b> This study evaluated the change in lung function in 118 consecutive patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by surgical lung biopsy. Forced vital capacity decreased by 156 ± 386 mL in a mean of 185 days between the last measurement before and first measurement after biopsy, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year.


Author(s):  
Aniruddha Bhattacharjee ◽  
Ariitharan A/l Thygoo ◽  
Subramanian Rammohan

Objectives: The sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet of Malaysian female have become important contributing factors to the rise of obesity. Studies on pulmonary function in relation to obesity are very few in Malaysia. Therefore, the study was aimed to evaluate the effect of obesity on pulmonary functions among young adult healthy female students of Shah Alam, Malaysia.Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in a total of 100 (50 obese and 50 non-obese) adult non-smoker healthy female students aged 18–25 years. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), FEV1 as a percentage of FVC (FEV1/FVC%), maximum midexpiratory flow rate (FEF 25–75%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured using a computerized spirometer. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured.Results: The mean FVC (L), FEV1 (L), FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25–75% (L/s), and PEFR (L/s) of obese group were marginally lower than non-obese control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. WC and waist–hip ratio exhibited significant (p<0.05) inverse correlation with all pulmonary function measurements except FEV1/FVC%. However, body mass index had no significant correlation with any spirometric variables in studied obese females.Conclusion: There was no significant effect of obesity on pulmonary functions in the studied Malaysian females. However, abdominal obesity had more impact on the impairment of pulmonary functions than overall relative obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 00214-2020
Author(s):  
Magnus Svartengren ◽  
Gui-Hong Cai ◽  
Andrei Malinovschi ◽  
Jenny Theorell-Haglöw ◽  
Christer Janson ◽  
...  

Study objectivesObesity is often associated with lower lung function; however, the interaction of lung function with central obesity and physical inactivity is less clear. As such, we investigated the effect on lung function of body size (body mass index (BMI)), central obesity (waist circumference (WC)) and self-reported physical activity.MethodsLung function, height, weight and WC were measured in 22 743 participants (12 791 women), aged 45–75 years, from the EpiHealth cohort study. Physical activity, gender and educational level were assessed using a questionnaire.ResultsObesity, central obesity and physical inactivity were all associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). However, in participants without central obesity there was an increase in both FEV1 and FVC by BMI (% predicted FVC increasing from median 98%, interquartile range (IQR) 89–110% in underweight participants (BMI <20) to 103%, IQR 94–113% in obese participants (BMI ≥30)). In contrast, there was a decrease in % predicted FVC in participants with central obesity (from 98%, IQR 89–109% in the normal weight group to 95%, IQR 85–105% in the obese weight group). We further found a negative association between physical activity and lung function among those with low and high levels of physical activity (% predicted FEV1 97%, IQR 86–107% versus 103%, IQR 94–113%, respectively and % predicted FVC 96%, IQR 85–106% versus 103%, IQR 94–113%, respectively). All results remained when calculated by z-scores.ConclusionsThe association between BMI and lung function is dependent on the presence of central obesity. Independent of obesity, there is an association between physical activity and lung function.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 147997312096702
Author(s):  
David Lang ◽  
Kaveh Akbari ◽  
Stefan Walcherberger ◽  
Benedikt Hergan ◽  
Andreas Horner ◽  
...  

The aim was to evaluate the impact of multiple high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features on pulmonary function test (PFT) biomarkers in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (FILD) patients. HRCT of subsequently ILD-board-discussed FILD patients were semi-quantitatively evaluated in a standardized approach: 18 distinct lung regions were scored for noduli, reticulation, honeycombing, consolidations, ground glass opacities (GGO), traction bronchiectasis (BRK) and emphysema. Total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) were assessed. Interactions between each PFT biomarker and all HRCT scores were visualized by network analyses, modeled according to the Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion and incorporated in uni- and multivariate stepwise regression analyses. Among 108 FILD patients (mean age 67 years, 77% male), BRK extent was a major significant uni- or multivariate determinant of all PFT analyzed. Besides that, diffusion-based variables DLCO and KCO showed a larger dependency on reticulation, emphysema and GGO, while forced expiratory volume-based measures FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were more closely associated with consolidations. For TLC, the only significant multivariate determinant was reticulation. In conclusion, PFT biomarkers derived from spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusion capacity in FILD patients are differentially influenced by semi-quantified HRCT findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211882461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gashaw Garedew Woldeamanuel ◽  
Teshome Gensa Geta

Background: Chronic consumption of khat affects many organ systems and leads to various health disturbances in the chewers. Few studies examined the acute effects of khat ingestion on lung function parameters. However, studies which assessed the long-term effects of khat chewing on pulmonary function parameters and oxygen saturation are lacking. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of chronic Khat chewing on pulmonary function parameters and oxygen saturation among chronic Khat chewers in Wolkite, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolkite, Ethiopia from 1 June 2018 to 15 August 2018. A total of 324 participants, 162 khat chewers and 162 non-chewers were included in the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interview by trained data collectors. British Medical Research Council respiratory questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms. A spirometer was used to assess various lung function parameters. Moreover, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin was measured using pulse oximeter. Data were entered into CSPro version 6.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: This study showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the mean values of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in first second and maximum ventilation volume among khat chewers as compared to non-chewers. There was no significant difference in the mean values of other lung function parameters between the two groups. Similarly, there was no significant difference (p = 0.642) in mean oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SaO2) across the two groups. Conclusion: It is evident from this study that long-term khat consumption is associated with decreased mean forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in first second and maximum ventilation volume. Hence, there is a need for further study to strengthen the current findings and to explore the mechanisms of khat chewing effect on lung function parameters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 386-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin J Cummings ◽  
Marcia L Stanton ◽  
Kathleen Kreiss ◽  
Randy J Boylstein ◽  
Ju-Hyeong Park ◽  
...  

ObjectivesFour machine manufacturing facility workers had a novel occupational lung disease of uncertain aetiology characterised by lymphocytic bronchiolitis, alveolar ductitis and emphysema (BADE). We aimed to evaluate current workers’ respiratory health in relation to job category and relative exposure to endotoxin, which is aerosolised from in-use metalworking fluid.MethodsWe offered a questionnaire and spirometry at baseline and 3.5 year follow-up. Endotoxin exposures were quantified for 16 production and non-production job groups. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decline ≥10% was considered excessive. We examined SMRs compared with US adults, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for health outcomes by endotoxin exposure tertiles and predictors of excessive FEV1 decline.ResultsAmong 388 (89%) baseline participants, SMRs were elevated for wheeze (2.5 (95% CI 2.1 to 3.0)), but not obstruction (0.5 (95% CI 0.3 to 1.1)). Mean endotoxin exposures (range: 0.09–28.4 EU/m3) were highest for machine shop jobs. Higher exposure was associated with exertional dyspnea (aPR=2.8 (95% CI 1.4 to 5.7)), but not lung function. Of 250 (64%) follow-up participants, 11 (4%) had excessive FEV1 decline (range: 403–2074 mL); 10 worked in production. Wheeze (aPR=3.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 12.1)) and medium (1.3–7.5 EU/m3) endotoxin exposure (aPR=10.5 (95% CI 1.3 to 83.1)) at baseline were associated with excessive decline. One production worker with excessive decline had BADE on subsequent lung biopsy.ConclusionsLung function loss and BADE were associated with production work. Relationships with relative endotoxin exposure indicate work-related adverse respiratory health outcomes beyond the sentinel disease cluster, including an incident BADE case. Until causative factors and effective preventive strategies for BADE are determined, exposure minimisation and medical surveillance of affected workforces are recommended.


2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1371-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keary A. Cope ◽  
Michael T. Watson ◽  
W. Michael Foster ◽  
Shelley S. Sehnert ◽  
Terence H. Risby

A computerized system has been developed to monitor tidal volume, respiration rate, mouth pressure, and carbon dioxide during breath collection. This system was used to investigate variability in the production of breath biomarkers over an 8-h period. Hyperventilation occurred when breath was collected from spontaneously breathing study subjects ( n = 8). Therefore, breath samples were collected from study subjects whose breathing were paced at a respiration rate of 10 breaths/min and whose tidal volumes were gauged according to body mass. In this “paced breathing” group ( n = 16), end-tidal concentrations of isoprene and ethane correlated with end-tidal carbon dioxide levels [Spearman's rank correlation test ( rs) = 0.64, P = 0.008 and rs = 0.50, P = 0.05, respectively]. Ethane also correlated with heart rate ( rs = 0.52, P < 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between transcutaneous pulse oximetry and exhaled carbon monoxide ( rs = -0.64, P = 0.008). Significant differences were identified between men ( n = 8) and women ( n = 8) in the concentrations of carbon monoxide (4 parts per million in men vs. 3 parts per million in women; P = 0.01) and volatile sulfur-containing compounds (134 parts per billion in men vs. 95 parts per billion in women; P = 0.016). There was a peak in ethanol concentration directly after food consumption and a significant decrease in ethanol concentration 2 h later ( P = 0.01; n = 16). Sulfur-containing molecules increased linearly throughout the study period (β = 7.4, P < 0.003). Ventilation patterns strongly influence quantification of volatile analytes in exhaled breath and thus, accordingly, the breathing pattern should be controlled to ensure representative analyses.


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