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Biomedical subjects

F H Sennhauser

Publications and source records attributed to F H Sennhauser.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Prevalence of hay fever and allergic sensitization in farmer's children and their peers living in the same rural community. SCARPOL team. Swiss Study on Childhood Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms with Respect to Air Pollution.

INTRODUCTION: Lower prevalence rates of allergic diseases in rural as compared with urban populations have been interpreted as indicating an effect of air pollution. However, little is known about other factors of the rural environment which may determine the development of atopic sensitization and related diseases. OBJECTIVE: The authors tested the hypothesis that children growing up on a farm were less likely to be sensitized to common aerollergens and to suffer from allergic diseases than children living in the same villages but in nonfarming families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three age groups of schoolchildren (6-7 years, 9-11 years, 13-15 years) living in three rural communities were included in the analyses. An exhaustive questionnaire was filled in by 1620 (86.0%) parents. A blood sample was provided by 404 (69.3%) of the 13-15 year olds to determine specific IgE antibodies against six common aeroallergens. RESULTS: Farming as parental occupation was reported for 307 children (19.0%). After adjustment for potential covariates such as family history of asthma and allergies, parental education, number of siblings, maternal smoking, pet ownership, indoor humidity and heating fuels, farming as parental occupation was significantly associated with lower rates of sneezing attacks during pollen season (adjusted OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12-0.89) and atopic sensitization (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13-0.73) whereas the association with wheeze (adjusted OR 0.77 95% CI 0.38-1.58) and itchy skin rash (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.49-1.50) was not statistically significant. The risk of atopic sensitization was lower in children from full-time farmers (adjusted OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.66) than from part-time farmers (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.15-1.96). CONCLUSION: Factors directly or indirectly related to farming as parental occupation decrease the risk of children becoming atopic and developing symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of responses to an asthma symptom questionnaire (ISAAC core questions) completed by adolescents and their parents. SCARPOL-Team. Swiss Study on Childhood Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms with respect to Air Pollution.

The primary objective of the study was to determine the impact of the identity of the respondent (parents versus adolescents) on prevalence estimates of asthma symptoms in Swiss adolescents. In addition, factors influencing agreement between parents' and adolescents' responses to the same questions were analysed. One thousand three hundred and seventy-four (78.4%) adolescents, aged 14 years, self-completed a questionnaire at school based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) core questions on wheezing and asthma. The same questions were incorporated into a questionnaire to be completed by the parents at home. The adolescents' self-reported prevalence rates of current asthma symptoms and "asthma ever" were significantly higher than those obtained from the parental questionnaires. 856 (62.6%) parental questionnaires were filled in by parents without the help of the adolescents, 460 (37.4%) were completed by parents and adolescents and 51 (3.7%) were completed by the adolescents without the parents. Prevalence rates were higher when parents and adolescents completed the questionnaire jointly than when questionnaires were completed by parents alone. The level of agreement between parental and self-completed questionnaires was moderate to low (kappa coefficients 0.22-0.68). Agreement between parental and adolescents reports of asthma symptoms was best when questionnaires were completed jointly by parents and adolescents, when the adolescent was a girl, when a family history of asthma was recorded, when the adolescent was a non-smoker, and when the parental education was high. We conclude that the higher reporting of prevalence rates of current asthma symptoms by adolescents compared to reporting by their parents demonstrates the need to take the respondent to a questionnaire into account when comparisons are made between prevalence studies. The results also suggest that factors related to the family milieu influence symptom reporting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The relationship of serum-eosinophil cationic protein and eosinophil count to disease activity in children with bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND: The serum-eosinophil cationic protein level (S-ECP) has been promoted as a biomarker of asthma that reflects the degree of bronchial eosinophilic inflammation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate whether S-ECP is indeed a clinically useful objective parameter, especially in mild or moderate chronic childhood asthma, we studied 100 outpatient children with chronic asthma symptoms (63 boys and 37 girls, aged three to 15 years, median of age eight) and 25 controls (12 boys and 13 girls aged three to 15 years, median of age eight). Symptom scores, lung function parameters and atopy were compared with S-ECP determined by commercially available tests and eosinophils measured by an autoanalyser. RESULTS: Asthma symptom scores in the patient group ranged between one and 13 (median of 8), S-ECP between 2.1 and 75.6 microg/l (median of 13.3 microg/ l), and eosinophils between 30/microl and 2002/microl (median of 314). Symptom scores and S-ECP were correlated significantly (P < 0.001) as were symptom scores and eosinophils (P = 0.001). S-ECPs were significantly higher in children with chronic asthma symptoms compared with non-asthmatic, non-atopic children (P = 0.005 for non-atopic chronic asthmatics and P < 0.001 for atopic asthmatics); similar results were found comparing eosinophils in these groups. There was no difference in S-ECP between atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children, but the 25 polysensitised asthmatic children especially with sensitisations to mite, pollen and pet allergens were found to have significantly higher S-ECP compared to 15 monosensitised children (P = 0.002). Similar results were found when correlating eosinophil numbers with atopy. Polysensitised (mite, pollen, pet) asthmatics had significantly higher eosinophil counts compared with monosensitised (pollen) asthmatics (P = 0.01); there was, however, a better discrimination between atopic and non-atopic asthmatics (P = 0.001). Non-asthmatic, non-atopic controls had significantly lower eosinophil counts compared with asthmatics (P < 0.001 for both non-atopic and atopic asthmatics). No correlation between S-ECP or eosinophils and any of the lung function parameters measured (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MEF50, airway resistance and ITGV) was found. SUMMARY: Our data thus indicate that 1) S-ECP is higher than normal in children with asthma symptoms and correlates with asthma symptom score. 2) S-ECP is better correlated to symptom score than to lung function parameters especially in children with mild and moderate asthma symptoms. 3) Raised S-ECP appears to reflect the extent of allergen sensitivity and may also reflect current allergen exposure. 4) Similar correlations were seen when measuring eosinophil number by an autoanalyser instead of S-ECP. CONCLUSIONS: Although S-ECP and eosinophils are not diagnostic of asthma they are useful inflammation markers especially in the context of clinical studies. However, both methods are not yet suitable for use in daily practice because they require extensive procedures and special equipment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Validation of a rhinitis symptom questionnaire (ISAAC core questions) in a population of Swiss school children visiting the school health services. SCARPOL-team. Swiss Study on Childhood Allergy and Respiratory Symptom with respect to Air Pollution and Climate. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.

UNLABELLED: The primary aim of the study was to assess the validity of the ISAAC core questions on rhinitis in a population of Swiss school children by comparing them to skin prick test results. Second, the positive predictive value in detecting atopy among children with rhinitis symptoms was determined. Third, agreement between parental reports of hay fever and rhinitis symptoms was evaluated, since earlier Swiss prevalence surveys had exclusively relied on reported hay fever. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two thousand nine hundred and fifty-four (81.2%) parents of 7, 10 and 14-year old children filled in an exhaustive questionnaire which included the ISAAC core questions on rhinitis. Two thousand one hundred and twenty children also underwent skin prick testing against six common aeroallergens (grass mixture, birch, mugwort, D. pteronyssinus, cat and dog dander). The analysis is restricted to children with both questionnaire data and skin prick test results. RESULTS: Sensitization to any allergen was most strongly associated with reported hay fever (OR = 5.7, 95% CI 4.4-7.4), nose problems accompanied by itchy-watery eyes (OR = 4.4, 95% CI: 3.3-5.7), symptoms occurring only during pollen season (March through September) (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 3.6-6.5) and a combination of these latter two symptoms (OR = 5.8, 95% CI: 4.1-8.1). The association was stronger for a sensitization to outdoor allergens than for indoor allergens. The specificity of the various questions was high, ranging from 77.5% to 97.6%, but the sensitivity was low (2.6% to 42.7%). The positive predictive value for atopy among children with symptoms was 63% for sneezing accompanied by itchy-watery eyes, 67% for symptoms occurring only during the pollen season and 70% for reported hay fever. However, agreement between reported rhinitis symptoms and hay fever was only moderate. About one third of the children with symptoms indicative of seasonal rhinitis did not report the label "hay fever". CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from our analyses that the ISAAC core questions on rhinitis are highly specific and therefore useful in excluding atopy. In addition they have a high positive predictive value in detecting atopy among children with symptoms, but they are not helpful for detecting atopy in a general population of children (low sensitivity). To monitor time trends in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Switzerland, questions on rhinitis symptoms as well as on the diagnostic label "hay fever" have to be included in a questionnaire because they contain complementary information since under-diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is common.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Respiratory health and long-term exposure to air pollutants in Swiss schoolchildren. SCARPOL Team. Swiss Study on Childhood Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms with Respect to Air Pollution, Climate and Pollen.

The impact of long-term exposure to air pollution on respiratory and allergic symptoms and illnesses was assessed in a cross-sectional study of schoolchildren (ages 6 to 15 yr, n = 4,470) living in 10 different communities in Switzerland. Air pollution measurements (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter [PM10], nitrogen dioxide [NO2], sulfur dioxide [SO2], and ozone) and meteorologic data were collected in each community. Reported symptom rates of chronic cough, nocturnal dry cough, and bronchitis, adjusted for individual risk factors, were positively associated with PM10, NO2, and SO2. The strongest relationship was observed for PM10 (adjusted odds ratios for chronic cough, nocturnal dry cough, and bronchitis between the most and the least polluted community for PM10 were 3.07 [95% CI: 1.62 to 5.81], 2.88 [95% CI: 1.69 to 4.89], and 2.17 [95% CI: 1.21 to 4.89], respectively). The high correlation between the average concentrations of the pollutants makes the assessment of the relative importance of each pollutant difficult. No association between long-term exposure to air pollution and classic asthmatic and allergic symptoms and illnesses was found. There was some indication that frequency of fog is a risk factor of chronic cough and bronchitis, independent of air pollution. In conclusion, this study provides further evidence that rates of respiratory illnesses and symptoms among children augment with increasing levels of air pollution even in countries like Switzerland with moderate average air pollution concentrations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Benefits and risks of topical steroids in childhood].

Inhaled glucocorticosteroids have become the cornerstone mode of anti-inflammatory treatment in children, especially with bronchial asthma. Many publications document the clinical efficacy of inhaled steroids and an increasing number of authors point out the possible systemic effects of topical steroids, such as effects on growth, impaired bone metabolism and adrenal suppression. The goal of this review article is to summarize published data. The author stresses possible relevant side effects in relation to dose and inhalation technique and focuses on the most appropriate indications and therapeutic modalities of inhaled steroids. The article yields valuable information for both practitioners and clinicians which will assist them in administering inhaled steroids and in discussing questions of safety with medical professionals and laymen.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1995

The Yentl syndrome in childhood asthma: risk factors for undertreatment in Swiss children.

Recent prevalence data for childhood asthma in Switzerland suggest a substantial underdiagnosis which seems to be more pronounced in girls. We further analysed our data trying to specify risk factors for underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Our special interest was focused on female sex as there is evidence for a sex-dependent diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease in adults, called the Yentl syndrome. The data are derived from a parent completed questionnaire survey of a stratified cluster sample of schoolchildren aged 7, 12, and 15 years. Besides the 12 months prevalence of asthma symptoms and bronchodilator treatment, the lifetime prevalence of an asthma diagnosis was noted. With a response rate of 97%, a total of 4353 completed questionnaires were analysed. While age was not associated with undertreatment (except for exercise-induced symptoms in adolescents), the lack of a formal diagnosis of asthma and atypical asthma symptoms other than wheeze such as chronic night cough were confirmed as significant risk factors for undertreatment. Of all boys reporting asthma symptoms 31% received bronchodilator treatment compared with only 15% of the symptom-reporting girls (P < 0.001). For all particular asthma-related symptoms (except wheeze), significantly more boys than girls (approximately double) received treatment. The physiological and psychological bases for these findings are discussed and suggest that gender is an important risk factor for underdiagnosis and undertreatment of asthma. Our research indicates that the Yentl syndrome may exist for childhood asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in Swiss children: is bronchial asthma really more prevalent in boys?

Precise epidemiological data for the prevalence of childhood asthma were lacking for Switzerland until recently. In 1990 we performed a stratified cluster sampling of schoolchildren (aged 7, 12, and 15 years), using a parent completed questionnaire to obtain data for the 12 months prevalence of asthma symptoms and the lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosis. A response rate of 97.5% enabled us to analyse 4,353 completed questionnaires. The prevalence of any asthma symptom during the last 12 months was 17.5% while only 4.8% of the children reported the diagnostic label "asthma". The 12 months prevalence of chronic night cough was 12% and is comparable to other European data. Wheeze (5.9%) was reported less often in Switzerland than in England. At the age of 7 years asthma symptoms such as wheeze, morning tightness, and allergen-induced symptoms were reported more often in boys than in girls; at the age of 12 and 15 the male preponderance was no more evident. For all asthma symptoms the male-female ratio decreased with increasing age of the children, while independently of age twice as many boys than girls reported the diagnostic label "asthma." We conclude that asthma symptom prevalence in Swiss schoolchildren is within the lower range of European data. Chronic night cough might be a more appropriate variable to compare prevalence rates between regions with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds that the symptom of wheeze. Evidence exists for a substantial underdiagnosis of bronchial asthma in Swiss children, especially in girls. Further evaluation is needed to define risk factors for underdiagnosis and the associated risk for undertreatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

International comparison of asthma prevalence in children: Australia, Switzerland, Chile.

The aim of the study was to determine if the prevalence of symptoms suggestive of asthma in school-age children was similar in three countries with differing language and culture. To answer this question, we used the same instrument, translated appropriately, for schoolchildren in Melbourne, Australia, St. Gallen, Switzerland, and La Serena, Chile. A three page respiratory symptoms questionnaire was issued to schools for distribution to children for completion by parents and return to the school. Three age groups were selected for study, based on the average age of the school grade. Grades were used with average ages of 7, 12, and 15 years, respectively. A total of 26,628 questionnaires were issued to parents (Australia, 10,981; Switzerland, 4,464; Chile, 11,183). The response rates for each country were 89% for Australia, 97.5% for Switzerland, and 71% for Chile. The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months for 7 year olds was 23.1% in Melbourne, 7.4% in St. Gallen, and 26.5% in La Serena; for 12 year olds it was 20.9% in Melbourne, 6.0% in St. Gallen, and 21.1% in La Serena; for 15 year olds it was 18.6% in Melbourne, 4.5% in St. Gallen, and 17.7% in La Serene. A history of wheezing was more common in boys than girls at age 7 in Melbourne and St. Gallen, but not La Serena. This difference was less at age 12 and was not seen at age 15. Among those who had reported wheezing in the last 12 months, bronchodilator use was reported by 83% (1,611/1,948) from Melbourne, 46% (118/259) from St. Gallen, and 47% (538/1,140) from La Serena.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of childhood asthma: facts, tendencies and interpretations.

Questionnaire surveys are an appropriate instrument to assess epidemiologic data on respiratory ill health, to analyse influences of environmental factors on respiratory morbidity and to evaluate treatment strategies. To investigate the prevalence rates of asthma and symptoms suggestive of asthma we performed population surveys in Swiss school children. Special attention is drawn to particular aspects such as atypical symptoms, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Prevalence of bronchial asthma in childhood in Switzerland: significance of symptoms and diagnosis].

The prevalence of bronchial asthma has been studied prospectively for the first time in Swiss children. In August 1990 approximately 4900 children were issued with questionnaires to be completed by parents. Overall response rate was 85% and data of 4156 children were available for further analysis. The 12 month period prevalence for wheeze and/or asthma was 9.1% (boys 10.2%, girls 7.8%; p = 0.005). The lifetime prevalence of wheeze in this survey was 16.5%. Overall, only 34% of those reporting wheeze also reported a history of bronchial asthma. Nighttime symptoms such as irritant cough, tightness in the chest and wheezing were reported significantly more often in households with smokers than in families without smokers (p = 0.025). Living in a metropolitan area seems to be a risk factor for asthma symptoms at night when compared with families living in the country (p = 0.005). The current prevalence of asthmatic symptoms in Swiss children is a high as reported in other countries of the northern hemisphere. Our data disclosed a substantial proportion of underdiagnosis of asthma in Swiss children. We speculate that underdiagnosis is a risk factor for undertreatment of childhood asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Immunoglobulin and anti-Escherichia coli antibody in lower respiratory tract secretions from infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth.

Concentrations of immunoglobulins and anti-Escherichia coli antibody were studied longitudinally in tracheobronchial aspirates from 33 premature intubated neonates, median gestational age 27 weeks. Aspirates collected at birth contained IgG, IgA, and IgM in 100%, 93%, and 79% of samples, respectively. The median IgA concentration at birth was 0.7 micrograms/mg total protein and increased to 5.8 micrograms/mg protein by the sixth week. IgG and IgM antibodies to E coli were present in 90% and 30%, respectively, of tracheobronchial aspirates collected at birth. Samples from three of 28 neonates (11%) contained IgA anti-E coli antibody at birth, and the proportion with IgA antibody rose to 50% during the sixth week. Secretory component associated IgA and IgM were detectable in samples tested at birth and at 4 weeks of age, and secretory component associated anti-E coli antibody was present in aspirates from three of nine neonates studied at 4 weeks of age, but had not been detectable at birth.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1990

Maternofetal transfer of IgG anti-Escherichia coli antibodies with enhanced avidity and opsonic activity in very premature neonates.

Total IgG concentrations, IgG antibody concentrations to pooled Escherichia coli antigens, and IgG anti-E. coli antibody avidity were measured in cord and maternal serum samples collected from 52 mother-infant pairs after premature delivery (mean gestational age 28 wk, range 23-33 wk). The mean IgG anti-E. coli antibody concentration in cord serum (1.86 relative units/mL) was markedly lower than in maternal serum (5.42 relative units/mL) at this gestation (p less than 0.0001). Cord serum IgG anti-E. coli antibody concentrations correlated closely with maternal IgG anti-E. coli concentrations when controlled for the effect of gestational age (partial correlation coefficient 0.89; p less than 0.001) but only weakly with gestational age when controlled for maternal IgG antibody concentrations (partial correlation coefficient 0.23; p = 0.06). The mean ratio of cord to maternal IgG anti-E. coli antibody concentrations was considerably lower than the mean ratio for total IgG concentrations (0.34 versus 0.72; p less than 0.001). The mean avidity of IgG antibody for the pooled E. coli antigens was significantly greater in cord serum than in maternal serum (2.45 versus 1.99M; p less than 0.0001). There was a close correlation between cord and maternal antibody avidity (r = 0.70; p less than 0.001), but cord IgG antibody avidity did not correlate with gestational age (r = -0.07; p = 0.61), nor with cord IgG anti-E. coli antibody concentrations (r = 0.10; p = 0.50).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1989

Antibodies to polyclonal IgA, IgA1, and IgA2 and isotype-specific immune complexes in IgA nephropathy.

The concentrations of serum IgG and IgM antibodies to polyclonal IgA (IgAp), IgA1, and IgA2 were determined by enzyme immunoassay in 31 patients with IgA nephropathy and 30 healthy controls. Patients with IgA nephropathy had significantly raised concentrations of serum IgA compared to controls (Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.001) and increased concentrations of conglutinin-binding IgA immune complexes (P = 0.024). No differences in the median concentrations of IgG and IgM anti-IgA antibodies were found between the patients and the controls. In serum samples from healthy controls there was a significant positive correlation between IgM anti-IgAp and IgA immune complex concentrations (P = 0.05), which contrasted with the finding of an inverse correlation between IgM anti-IgAp and IgA immune complex concentrations in patients with IgA nephropathy (P less than 0.05). In addition, the concentrations of conglutinin binding IgM immune complexes in serum were found to correlate with the concentration of IgM anti-IgAp (0.010 less than P less than 0.025), IgM anti-IgA1, and IgM anti-IgA2 (P much less than 0.005 for both) in patients with IgA nephropathy but not in controls. IgM anti-IgA antibodies may be important in augmenting the clearance of IgA immune complexes from the serum of patients with IgA nephropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Pressure flow characteristics of the valve in spacer devices.

The valve system in the mouth piece of two spacer devices was analysed. Pressures required to open and close the non-rebreathing valve were very low (less than 0.1 kPa). Inspiratory flow requirements were within physiological limits for infants' normal tidal breathing. Expiratory flow requirements varied significantly, and the flow required to prevent rebreathing from the chamber may exceed the physiological flow limits for normal tidal breathing.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of concentration and avidity of specific antibodies to E. coli in breast milk and serum.

To investigate the relationship between mucosal and systemic immunity we analysed the specific anti-Escherichia coli antibody concentration and avidity of IgA in colostrum and IgG in paired blood samples from 47 mothers giving birth to premature neonates. The avidity of each sample, expressed as an avidity index, was determined using a novel enzyme immunoassay (EIA)-based procedure, while specific antibody determinations were performed by means of conventional sandwich EIA techniques. All subjects had detectable antibody to E. coli in serum and breast milk. The median avidity index for specific IgA antibody in breast milk (3.53 M NH4SCN, range 2.77-4.90) was significantly higher (P less than 0.0001) than that for specific IgG antibody in serum (median 2.03 M NH4SCN, range 1.15-3.65). Using Spearman correlation analysis, a weak but significant association was found between the avidity of colostral IgA antibody and the avidity of systemic IgG antibody to pooled E. coli polysaccharides (rs = 0.29, P = 0.02). There was also a weak correlation between the concentrations of specific serum IgG antibody and of specific colostral IgA antibody (rs = 0.36, P = 0.006). There was no correlation between the concentration of IgA anti-E. coli antibody in colostrum and the avidity of colostral IgA antibody (rs = 0.14, P less than 0.05). Similarly, there was no correlation between the concentration and the avidity of serum IgG anti-E. coli antibody (rs = 0.23, P less than 0.05). The findings of this study suggest independent regulation of concentration and avidity of specific IgA antibody in preterm breast milk. Similar results were seen for specific IgG antibody in serum. The correlations between systemic and mucosal antibody with respect to both concentration and avidity were significant, but are relatively weak and therefore suggest that there also may be independent factors which afford differential regulation of systemic and mucosal antibody responses.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗