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Biomedical subjects

J C Layzell

Publications and source records attributed to J C Layzell.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Asthma and allergy in Albania.

BACKGROUND: The risk of allergic disease may be influenced by the degree of "westernization". A survey was conducted to ascertain whether the prevalence of allergy was lower in Albania than elsewhere in Europe, as it has been the most isolated European country. METHODS: The subjects were residents of Tirana aged 20-44 years. A screening questionnaire was completed by 2653 subjects. A more detailed questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 564 respondents, together with skin prick tests and serum IgE assay. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheeze in the last year, and of wheeze without a cold, was lower in Albania than in any country that participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Nasal allergy and atopy (as indicated by serum specific IgE) were also uncommon in Albania, although serum total IgE concentrations were high. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirmed the hypothesis of a low prevalence of allergy in Albania. Possible reasons include the recent economic isolation of Albania, the infrequency of smoking by women, the lack of domestic pets, and the high incidence of childhood infection and parasitic infestation. The prevalence of allergy and its potential determinants should be monitored in Albania as that country acquires the characteristics of other parts of Europe.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Inter-relationships between haemostatic tests and the effects of some dietary determinants in the Caerphilly cohort of older men.

Inter-relationships between fibrinogen, platelets and other haemostatic factors were examined in 1030 men aged 55-99 years. Fasting blood was taken and used for cell counts, platelet counts and platelet parameters, aggregation of platelets to ADP by a whole blood method and a filter test of platelet activation. Plasma fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, factor VII and plasma viscosity were measured by standard methods. A stressed bleeding time was conducted on the forearm of the arm not used for venepuncture. Variability within the laboratory and short-term intra-subject variation were examined and found to be acceptably small. The effect of age on the tests was modest, except for von Willebrand factor which increased by about 50% of a SD for every 10 years of age. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels had small effects on the platelet tests and a large effect on factor VII. A number of dietary and life-style determinants were examined: smokers had increased levels of fibrinogen, viscosity and white cell count and reduced bleeding times. Alcohol drinkers showed reduced platelet activity and have lower levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and white cell count. Men who took fish oil capsules had substantially increased bleeding times and lower levels of von Willebrand factor and men who took capsules containing an extract of garlic showed reduced platelet retention in the filter test.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Infant feeding, wheezing, and allergy: a prospective study.

The determinants of wheezing and allergy were investigated in 453 children with a family history of allergic disease. A randomised controlled trial examined the effects of withholding cows' milk protein during the first three months of life and replacing cows' milk with soya milk. The children were followed up to the age of 7 years. Withholding cows' milk did not reduce the incidence of allergy or wheezing. Children who had ever been breast fed had a lower incidence of wheeze than those who had not (59% and 74% respectively). The effect persisted to age 7 years in the non-atopics only, the risk of wheeze being halved in the breast fed children after allowing for employment status, sex passive smoking, and overcrowding. Allergic disease was not associated with exposure to tobacco smoke, house dust mite antigen, or cats. Breast feeding may confer long term protection against respiratory infection.

Breast Feeding↗