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Biomedical subjects

E Omenaas

Publications and source records attributed to E Omenaas.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Total serum IgE and FEV1 by respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung disease in adults of a Norwegian community.

BACKGROUND: The importance of total serum IgE level on lung function impairment has not been established in a general population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional community study was to examine the relationship between total serum IgE and level of lung function in adults, and whether this relationship differed by sex, age, smoking habits or by respiratory symptoms and disease status. METHODS: A stratified random sample of 18-73 year old adults from the general population were invited to spirometry and serum analyses of total and specific IgE. Of 1512 subjects invited, 82% met and performed complete examinations. RESULTS: Increasing level of total serum IgE was related to reduced lung function (P < 0.01) given as sex, age, and height standardized residuals of one second forced expiratory volume (SFEV1). Subjects with total serum IgE in the highest vs the lowest tertile had a mean SFEV1 of -0.28, corresponding to age and height adjusted FEV1 differences of 120 and 150 mL in women and men, respectively. The relationship between IgE and lung function impairment did not differ significantly by sex, age or smoking habits. In subjects with obstructive lung disease increasing level of total serum IgE was more negatively associated with lung function level than in subjects with respiratory symptoms alone. No relationship was observed in asymptomatic subjects. This was confirmed in a multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for sex, age, smoking habits and lifetime smoking consumption showing that SFEV1 was predicted by an interaction between total serum IgE level and symptom and disease status (P < 0.01). This interaction remained after excluding subjects (n = 105) having specific IgE antibodies. CONCLUSION: Increasing total serum IgE level was associated with progressively lower lung function in a general adult population after taking other predictors of impaired spirometric lung function into account, though dependent on the subjects' respiratory symptom and disease status. Variation in prevalences of respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung disease in previous examined populations may thus explain conflicting observations of the association between total IgE and airflow impairment.

Adolescent

Serum house-dust-mite antibodies and reduced FEV1 in adults of a Norwegian community.

In this cross-sectional study we investigated whether the presence of specific serum IgE antibodies to house dust mite, timothy, birch, cat, and mold was associated with a reduced FEV1 in adults. We performed complete examinations on 82% of a stratified random sample of 18 to 73-yr-old adults (n = 1,239). Subjects with house-dust-mite antibodies had lower (p = 0.002) sex, age, and height standardized residuals of FEV1 (SFEV1) than those without any specific IgE antibody. This relationship did not differ significantly by sex, age, smoking habit, total serum IgE level, or season, and remained significant after excluding subjects with obstructive lung disease. For house-dust-mite antibodies we also observed a dose-response relationship between antibody levels and impaired lung function. In a final multiple linear regression analysis the presence of house-dust-mite antibodies was the only significant predictor (regression coefficient: -0.425; SE = 0.189; p = 0.02) of reduced SFEV1 after adjusting for smoking habit and lifetime tobacco consumption, season, total serum IgE level, and respiratory-symptom and disease status. Thus, house-dust-mite allergy is an independent predictor of reduced lung function in adults of a wide age range.

Adult

Single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide in an asymptomatic population of never smokers.

BACKGROUND: Data on reference values of transfer factor variables in general populations of asymptomatic never smokers are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between test variables and age, height, haemoglobin concentration and carboxyhaemoglobin concentration. METHODS: Measurements of single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO) were obtained for a randomly selected sample of never smokers in north western Europe who were 18-73 years old and had no respiratory symptoms or disorders. Two recordings of TLCO with a ratio of inspiratory vital capacity to forced vital capacity of greater than 0.09 were obtained by standardised techniques for 304 subjects. RESULTS: The measurement errors expressed as a percentage of the common mean value of TLCO, volume adjusted TLCO (KCO), and alveolar volume (VA) were 4.5%, 4.2%, and 2.4% respectively. Multiple linear regressions showed sex specific effects of height and age on TLCO, and, in addition, of haemoglobin and carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations on KCO. VA was associated with height but not with age. The 5th and 95th centiles for TLCO and KCO in men and women were between 78% and 82% and between 120% and 127%, respectively, of predicted values when age and height were taken into account. CONCLUSION: Reference equations and normal values for transfer test variables in a large healthy population of never smokers are described in relation to age, height, and haemoglobin concentrations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations and KCO in a population of never smoking men and women.

Adolescent

[Cerebral air embolism after percutaneous lung puncture].

Cerebral air embolism is a rare but serious complication to percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration of the lung. A case is described after puncture of a tumour in the right lung with a 0.6 mm needle. The patient developed paralysis of the upper and lower extremities on his left side, probably due to an air embolism in the right middle cerebral artery. He was fully restituted after early hyperbaric treatment with oxygen.

Aged

[A basic course in pulmonary diseases as part of specialist training in internal medicine].

According to the new plan for specialist training in internal medicine in Norway eight different basic courses are planned. The first course in pulmonary medicine was arranged in 1988 and was attended by doctors from all parts of Norway. A theoretical and practical programme was set up for five days, covering central parts of pulmonary medicine. The participants asked for more case presentations and plenum discussions. A systematic educational system in each department of medicine which trains candidates for internal medicine, may further increase the benefit obtained from these basic courses.

Curriculum

[Cessation of smoking. Advice on how to stop smoking presented in a newspaper].

A journalist and a physician presented a smoking cessation campaign in four weekend editions of a Norwegian newspaper. A questionnaire was administered to 1,437 persons by telephone, 34% of the readers of the newspaper had actually read one or several of the articles and had gained information and know-how on how to stop smoking. However, only 2% of the readers who smoked daily tried to change their smoking habits.

Health Education

[Smoking prevention. Courses on smoking prevention conducted at a regional hospital].

We present the results of four smoking cessation courses conducted during the period 1986 to 1988 and including 105 persons. 68 women and 37 men participated in weekly lessons, three prior to and two after a predetermined quit-smoking day. Physicians presented information and smoking cessation techniques, the latter based on cognitive behavioural modification. At one year follow-up 27% of the participants had stopped smoking and 49% had reduced smoking consumption. More intensive follow-up and pharmacological treatment might reduce the relapse rate further.

Hospitals, District

Cerebral air embolism after transthoracic aspiration with a 0.6 mm (23 gauge) needle.

A 54 yr old man experienced weakness in his legs, ataxia and subsequent urinary retention after a percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of a tumor in the right lower lobe. Clinical neurological examination and electroencephalography revealed signs of a brain stem lesion, probably due to an air embolism to the basilar artery. The symptoms and signs gradually disappeared prior to, as well as after, hyperbaric oxygen treatment. We believe this to be the first case of air embolism after transthoracic puncture with a 23 gauge needle to be reported in medical literature.

Biopsy, Needle