Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

McGill University Department of Epidemiology Biostatistics and Occupational Health, 213585, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Rationale: Little is known regarding the impact of ambient ultrafine particles (<0.1 μm) (UFPs) on childhood asthma development.

Objective: To examine the association between prenatal and early postnatal life exposure to UFPs and development of childhood asthma. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Aim: The objective of this study was to identify possible pre- and postnatal factors influencing neurodevelopment of the young child.

Methods: We used data from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 (COPSAC ) mother-child cohort, but excluded those with a neurological diagnosis, born <37 weeks of gestation and birth weights <2500g, resulting in 650 children analyzed. Neurodevelopment was assessed as age of achievement of early milestones, language scores at 1 and 2 years and cognitive score at 2 ½ years of age. Read More

Clin Exp Allergy 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Associations between parental asthma and prenatal exposure to asthma medications with offspring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported. However, the associations might be confounded by unmeasured (genetic and shared environmental) familial factors.

Objective: We investigated the association between (a) maternal/paternal asthma and offspring ASD, and (b) prenatal exposures to β2-agonists, other asthma medications and offspring ASD using cases and controls selected from the population as well as biological relatives with different degrees of relatedness. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Saf 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

c Division of Surgery , University College London, Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research Campus , London , UK .

Introduction: The use of antibiotics prenatally, during pregnancy, or neonatally may have adverse effects on the neonatal gut microbiome, and adversely affect the development of the infant immune system, leading to the development of childhood atopy, asthma, allergy and obesity. Areas covered: We reviewed new evidence about vaginal eubiosis and dysbiosis from molecular-based, cultivation-independent techniques, and how this affects the neonatal gut microbiome and early development of the immune system in infants. We have considered the association between maternal use of antibiotics and the potentially beneficial role of vitamin D in the development of atopy, asthma, allergy and obesity. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway.

Introduction: In most pregnancies after a cesarean section, a trial of labor is an option. The objective of the study was to explore trial of labor and its failure in pregnancies with medical risk conditions, in a population with a high trial of labor rate.

Material And Methods: In a cohort study (n=57 109), using data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway 1989-2014, women with a second delivery after a first pregnancy cesarean section were included. Read More

Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Allergies are a serious public health issue and prevalences are rising worldwide. The role of antibiotics in the development of allergies has repeatedly been discussed, as results remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pre- & postnatal antibiotic exposure and subsequent development of allergies (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, asthma, atopic sensitization and allergic rhinitis). Read More

PLoS One 2019 7;14(2):e0211976. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

Background: Smoking is the main risk factor for most of the leading causes of death. Cessation is the single most important step that smokers can take to improve their health. With the aim of informing policy makers about decisions on future tobacco control strategies, we estimated time and age trends in smoking cessation in Europe between 1980 and 2010. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Jan 25;663:418-425. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London,1 - 19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

The prevalence of the asthmatic symptoms among children increases globally over the time. Reduced exposure to pathogens in early childhood and increased exposure to anthropogenic irritants result in increased risk of wheezing in children, and all of this may be related to the usage of household chemicals. Objective of this analysis thus was to study the potential effects of overall exposure to home chemicals in the early life on the phenotypes of wheezing from birth until five years of age. Read More

Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Faculty of Medicine, Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Data on burden of severe influenza in children with a range of chronic lung diseases (CLDs) remain limited.

Method: We performed a cohort study to estimate burden of influenza-associated hospitalization in children with CLDs using population-based linked data. The cohort comprised all children in New South Wales, Australia, born between 2001 and 2010 and was divided into five groups, children with: (a) severe asthma; (b) bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); (c) cystic fibrosis (CF); (d) other congenital/chronic lung conditions; and (e) children without CLDs. Read More

Ethiop J Health Sci 2019 Jan;29(1):831-840

MizanTepi University, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, adult Health Hursing Unit.

Background: Disorders of pregnancy induced hypertensive are a major health problem in the obstetric population as they are one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization estimates that at least one woman dies every seven minutes from complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The objective of this study is to assess pregnancy induced hypertension and its associated factors among women attending delivery service at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Gebretsadikshawo Hospital and Tepi General Hospital. Read More

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019 Jan 30;7(1):e11836. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).

Background: The use of social media and mobile health (mHealth) apps has been increasing in pregnancy care. However, the effectiveness of these interventions is still unclear.

Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of these interventions with regard to different health outcomes in pregnant and postpartum women and investigate the characteristics and components of interventions that may affect program effectiveness. Read More

Environ Int 2019 Mar 23;124:462-472. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address:

Introduction: Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been inconsistently associated with asthma and allergic diseases and increased number of infections in early childhood. We examined the association of PFASs measured in pregnancy with childhood asthma, allergies and common infectious diseases in a prospective pregnancy cohort followed to age 7 years.

Material And Methods: Six PFASs (out of 19 measured) with at least 80% of measurements above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in maternal plasma during pregnancy in two subcohorts of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) were analyzed in relation to health outcomes: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS). Read More

Med Lett Drugs Ther 2019 Jan;61(1563):6-8

Aging (Albany NY) 2019 Jan;11(2):707-723

Department of Pharmacotherapy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo 202-8585, Japan.

Reproductive organs play a pivotal role in asthma development and progression, especially in women. Endocrine environment changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can exacerbate the clinical features of asthma. Factors secreted by reproductive organs may be responsible for the gender difference and age-related changes in adult asthma. Read More

BJOG 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK.

Objective: To examine the association between mid-pregnancy dietary patterns and pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH).

Design: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Denmark. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Jan 21;19(1):94. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Background: With increasing interest in exposure effects across generations, it is crucial to assess the validity of information given on behalf of others.

Aims: To compare adult's report of their parent's smoking status against parent's own report and examine predictors for discrepant answers.

Methods: We studied 7185 offspring (18-51 years) and one of their parents, n = 5307 (27-67 years) participating in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) generation study. Read More

Can Respir J 2018 18;2018:7649629. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Gynecologist and Obstetrician, St. Josefs Hospital, Wiesbaden, Germany.

Data on inhaler technique and its effects on maternal and fetal outcomes during pregnancy are seldom reported. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate inhaler technique and identify errors in inhaler use among pregnant women with asthma. Secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with poor inhaler technique and study the association between inhaler technique and maternal and fetal outcomes. Read More

Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Dec 2;17(6):540-547. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AND Infertility Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Regulatory T cells are of utmost importance for tolerating the fetus. In some pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells is altered, but there is no consistency regarding the results. Besides, little is known about the frequency of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells in pregnancy complications. Read More

Birth Defects Res 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Centre, Sherbrooke, Canada.

Background: The relationship between childhood asthma and central nervous system defects in offspring is poorly understood. We assessed if childhood asthma was associated with the risk of having an infant with neural tube or other nervous system defects compared with asthma during pregnancy.

Methods: We analyzed a longitudinal cohort of 128,060 women who were 5 years or less at study entry and later delivered an infant in Quebec, Canada (1989-2014). Read More

Front Immunol 2018 18;9:2997. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.

Sex-related differences in asthma prevalence are well established and change through the reproductive phases of life. As children, boys have increased prevalence of asthma compared to girls. However, as adults, women have increased prevalence of asthma compared to men. Read More

Georgian Med News 2018 Nov(284):98-102

David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi; Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia.

Asthma is a common disease with increasing prevalence both in children and adults. WHO estimates that annually 15 million disability-adjusted life-years are lost and 250,000 asthma deaths are reported worldwide. Approximately 500,000 annual hospitalizations are due to asthma. Read More

Can J Public Health 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St, 4th Floor, Office 4S310, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4, Canada.

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of the Canadian population that is more susceptible to adverse effects of ozone (O) and fine particle (PM) air pollution exposure and how this varies by health region alongside ambient concentrations of O and PM.

Methods: Using data from the census, the Canadian Community Health Survey, vital statistics and published literature, we generated cross-sectional estimates for 2014 of the proportions of the Canadian population considered more susceptible due to age, chronic disease, pregnancy, outdoor work, socio-economic status, and diet. We also estimated 2010-2012 average concentrations of O and PM. Read More

Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2019 Jan 2. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.

Purpose Of Review: To review the literature of the past 18 months (April 2017 through September, 2018) relating to vitamin D and childhood asthma.

Recent Findings: A combined analysis of two clinical trials of maternal vitamin D supplementation trials showed a significant protective effect of vitamin D supplementation trials in the primary prevention of asthma and recurrent wheeze up to age 3 years. Secondary analyses from these trials have also suggested that initial maternal vitamin D status could affect the response to supplementation during pregnancy, with the biggest protective effect in children born to mothers with initial 25hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels of at least 30 ng/ml. Read More

Asthma Res Pract 2018 27;4:11. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

1Faculty of Medicine, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.

Background: Although asthma is one of the most serious diseases causing complications during pregnancy, half of the women discontinue therapy thus diminishing the control of the disease, mostly due to the inadequate education and fear of adverse events. Sadly, this is sometimes encouraged by insufficiently educated physicians. Since the incidence and the prevalence of asthma is increasing, it is important to arouse the importance of proper asthma therapy during pregnancy. Read More

PLoS One 2018 28;13(12):e0207235. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

UQAM, Département des sciences de l'activité physique, Montréal, Canada.

Introduction: Past research has shown relationships between stress during pregnancy, and related psychosocial health measures such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, with infant, child, and adult outcomes. However, most research is from high-income countries. We conducted a scoping review to identify research studies on prenatal stress and outcomes of the pregnancy or offspring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and to synthesize the stress measures and outcomes assessed, the findings observed, and directions for future research. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2018 Dec;53(12):842-848

Department of Intensive Care Unit, Foshan Woman and Children Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China.

To analyze clinical characteristics of severe community-acquired pneumonia during pregnancy and its outcomes, and to explore the relevant risk factors. From September 2012 to September 2017, 324 398 pregnancies admitted in 7 tertiary hospitals were included. Clinical data of 33 cases of pregnancies with severe community-acquired pneumonia (severe pneumonia group) and 214 cases of pregnancies with common community-acquired pneumonia (control group) were reviewed retrospectively, including the clinical information, manifestations, laboratory examinations and pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Harefuah 2018 Dec;157(12):783-786

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rambam Health Care Campus, affiliated with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.

Introduction: Smoking during pregnancy is a public health problem because of the many adverse effects associated with it. These include intrauterine growth restriction, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, decreased maternal thyroid function, preterm premature rupture of membranes, low birth weight, perinatal mortality, and ectopic pregnancy. An estimated 5-8% of pre-term deliveries, 13-19% of term deliveries of infants with low birth weight, 23-34% cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and 5-7% of preterm-related infant deaths can be attributed to prenatal maternal smoking. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC. Electronic address:

Background: Epigenetic mechanisms, including methylation, can contribute to childhood asthma. Identifying DNA methylation profiles in asthmatic patients can inform disease pathogenesis.

Objective: We sought to identify differential DNA methylation in newborns and children related to childhood asthma. Read More

Birth Defects Res 2019 Jan 19;111(2):62-69. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases and use of antiasthmatic medication during pregnancy may both play a role in the etiology of congenital anorectal malformations (ARM). However, it is unclear, whether the medication use or the underlying condition would be responsible. Therefore, our aim was to unravel the role of maternal chronic respiratory diseases from that of antiasthmatic medication in the etiology of ARM. Read More

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Respiratory Institute, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

There is currently growing evidence that events occurring early in life, both before and after birth, are significantly associated with the risk of asthma, COPD and low lung function later in life. In fact, from conception to death there are continuous, dynamic numbers of gene-environment interactions that determine two fundamental biologic processes, lung development and lung ageing. Over 130 birth cohorts have been initiated in the last 30 years. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2019 23;26:63-67. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Centegra Health Care System, USA.

Cystic lung diseases are a group of disorders that appear similar on radiological studies on chest computed tomography. Each disorder is characterized by its own etiology, pathophysiology, course of progression and manifestation. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is one of the cystic lung diseases that can either be hereditary or sporadic. Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

University of Portsmouth School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Background: Allergic diseases have increased worldwide in the last 2 decades, with children suffering the highest burden of the condition. The ω-3 long-chain poly-unsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) possesses anti-inflammatory properties that could lead to a reduction in inflammatory mediators in allergies.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the most recent follow-ups of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ω-3 LCPUFA supplementation started during pregnancy on allergic outcomes in offspring. Read More

Curr Treat Options Allergy 2018 5;5(4):347-355. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

1Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Meilahdentie 2, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this paper is to review and summarize the current knowledge of prevention of airway allergy.

Recent Findings: Allergic rhinitis and asthma are allergic airway diseases. Due to their increasing incidence and socioeconomic burden, allergic airway diseases have recently gained attention worldwide. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Center for Asthma Research, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Electronic address:

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that maternal plasma alpha-tocopherol levels are associated with protection from childhood wheeze and that this protection is modified by gamma-tocopherol.

Study Design: We conducted a prospective nested study in the Infant Susceptibility to Pulmonary Infections and Asthma Following Respiratory Syncytial Virus Exposure birth cohort of 652 children with postpartum maternal plasma vitamin E isoforms used as a surrogate for pregnancy concentrations. Our outcomes were wheezing and recurrent wheezing over a 2-year period, ascertained using validated questionnaires. Read More

Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Oct 20;17(5):485-489. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

International Campus, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Gender medicine is a new era of science which focuses on the impact of sex hormones and gender on normal physiology, pathobiology and clinical features of diseases. In this study we investigated the impact of pregnancy doses of progesterone hormone on the expression of a couple of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), which are known to be involved in tissue remodeling of lungs in health and disease, namely MMP7 and 13. Pregnancy maintenance dose of progesterone was administered to female BALB/c mice for 21 and 28 days, the control group received PBS for the same days. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 12 4;15(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Research & Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop 0727, South Africa.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between lifetime spousal violence victimization, spousal violence perpetration, and physical health outcomes and behaviours among women in India. In the 2015⁻2016 National Family Health Survey, a sample of ever-married women (15⁻49 years) ( = 66,013) were interviewed about spousal violence. Results indicate that 29. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2018 Nov 30;19(1):427. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Federal University of Pelotas - Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3° andar, Pelotas, RS, Zip code: 96020-220, Brazil.

Background: Studies have shown that cytokines play a role in bone remodeling.

Methods: In 1993, all hospital births occurred in Pelotas (Brazil) were identified and a total of 5249 newborns were included in the present cohort. Sub-samples of this cohort were visited during childhood and all members were traced at 11, 15, 18 and 22 years old. Read More

J Infect Dis 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Emory University, USA.

Objective: In a population-based cohort study we determined the association between age at first severe respiratory syncytial viral (RSV) disease and subsequent asthma.

Methods: Incidence rates and rate ratios of first asthma hospitalisation beyond 2 years of age in children with RSV hospitalisation at <3 months, 3 - <6 months, 6 - <12 months, and 12 - 24 months were calculated.

Results: The incidence/1000 child - years (95% CI) of asthma hospitalisation in children who had RSV hospitalisation at <3 months was 0. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019 Feb;299(2):597

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mobini Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

In the original publication, the university name of the authors in the affiliations was published as University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran. The correct university name should read as Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 3;243(17-18):1313-1322. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

1 Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.

Impact Statement: Sex-differences in the incidence and severity of inflammatory lung diseases have been recognized for years. Women of reproductive age are more likely to suffer from chronic lung disease, with higher mortality rates than men. Physiological changes in hormone levels such as those occurring during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause have been associated with lung function changes and asthma symptoms. Read More

Vaccine 2018 Dec 22;36(52):8100-8109. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St, Suite 480, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Early RSV illness is associated with wheeze-associated disorders in childhood. Candidate respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines may prevent acute RSV illness in infants. We investigated the feasibility of maternal RSV vaccine trials to demonstrate reductions in recurrent childhood wheezing in general paediatric populations. Read More

Eur Respir J 2019 Feb 14;53(2). Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.

Asthma has been linked with prolonged time to pregnancy. Our aim was to explore a possible association between asthma and need for fertility treatment among women with live births.All women enrolled in the Management of Asthma during Pregnancy (MAP) programme at Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark were each matched with the next three consecutive women giving birth at Hvidovre Hospital. Read More

Clin Exp Allergy 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.

Background: While familial clustering of asthma is known, few studies have reported on the relative roles of paternal and maternal asthma and the role of maternal asthma control in pregnancy on the risk for asthma in the child.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relative roles of paternal asthma, maternal asthma, and maternal asthma control during pregnancy on the risk of asthma or recurrent wheeze in 3-year-old children and how prenatal and cord blood vitamin D status might affect this risk.

Methods: Data from 806 women, their partners (biologic fathers of the infants), and their children participated in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trail (VDAART, clinicaltrials. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2019 4;26:23-26. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

Department of Medicine for Allergic Disease, Osaka Habikino Medical Center, 3-7-1 Habikino, Habikino City, Osaka, 583-8588, Japan.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is characterized by excessive eosinophil accumulation in the peripheral blood and affected tissues with development of granulomatous vasculitic organ damage. It is strongly associated with asthma and ear-nose-throat disease. It often affects patients between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Read More

Ann Epidemiol 2019 Feb 2;30:1-8. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: We conducted the meta-analysis to respectively evaluate the risk of prenatal antibiotics use during specific trimesters (first, second, and third trimester) on childhood asthma or wheeze and to explore whether the association was biased by potential confounding.

Methods: The quality of included articles was assessed according to Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), and publication bias was tested by Egger statistical test. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2019 Jan 13;54(1):11-19. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Child Health, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

This study investigated whether the previously reported associations in this birth cohort between maternal vitamin D and E intakes during pregnancy and childhood wheeze/asthma outcomes at age 5 and 10 years are still evident at age 15 years. In a prospective study of 1924 children recruited in utero, maternal vitamin D and E intakes during pregnancy were assessed by food frequency questionnaire and the children completed raespiratory questionnaire at age 15 years. Treatment for asthma at age 15 was also ascertained using healthcare data. Read More

Rev Pneumol Clin 2018 Dec 9;74(6):483-491. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Service de médecine du travail et pathologies professionnelles, CHU de Farhat-Hached, Sousse, Tunisie.

Background: Occupational asthma (OA) is described as the most common respiratory disease in industrialized countries. A female predominance characterizes many populations of asthmatic workers. Differences in occupational exposures by gender as well as hormonal variations could affect OA in women. Read More

J Nutr 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Randomized trials have reported that supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in pregnancy can prolong pregnancy and thereby increase birth weight.

Objective: We aimed to examine the relations of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy with duration of pregnancy, birth weight, and size for gestational age (GA).

Methods: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 736 pregnant women and their offspring, from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2010cohort. Read More

Allergy 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Curr Opin Pulm Med 2019 Jan;25(1):11-17

Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle.

Purpose Of Review: Asthma affects up to 13% of pregnancies worldwide and has a varying and unpredictable clinical course during pregnancy. Pharmacological asthma treatment is recommended; however, studies show that some pregnant women with asthma cease their medication in early pregnancy. There is likely a large unmet disease burden arising from asthma in pregnancy. Read More