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Biomedical subjects

M H Shamssain

Publications and source records attributed to M H Shamssain.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren from the northeast of England.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in schoolchildren from the northeast of England. METHODS: We randomly selected 3,000 children from 80 schools. We used the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) written questionnaire. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rates of symptoms were: rhinitis, 32.8%; wheezing, 31.3%; hay fever, 23.7%; and self-reported asthma, 22.3%. Rhinitis was reported by 53% and 61% of boys and girls with asthma, respectively. Girls 13 to 14 years of age had higher prevalence rates of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema symptoms than boys; a reverse sex ratio has been shown in this age group. Atopic eczema was reported by 32% of boys with asthma and 37% of girls with asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rates of reported asthma, and symptoms suggestive of asthma, were higher than those previously reported in UK children. The present study would be a suitable baseline for monitoring future trends in the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergic disorders among these children, and provides a framework for further etiologic research into the genetics, lifestyle, environmental, and medical care factors affecting these conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema: the north east study.

Using the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, 3000 children aged 6-7 years from various schools in the north east of England were studied. In this population, the lifetime prevalence rates of various symptoms and diagnoses were: wheezing, 29.6%; atopic eczema, 27.8%; rhinitis, 23. 1%; and self reported asthma, 22.7%. Rhinitis was reported by 44% and 40% of boys and girls with asthma, respectively. Atopic eczema was reported by 46% of both boys and girls with asthma. The prevalence rates of reported asthma, and of symptoms suggestive of asthma, were higher than those reported from studies conducted on UK children in 1992.

Asthma↗
PubMed1996

Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of lung function in steelworkers.

We evaluated associations between dust exposure, demographic factors, and lung function by longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses in 475 steelworkers who participated in at least three spirometry tests over 5 yr between 1982 and 1991. Baseline and follow-up spirometry and changes between baseline and final follow-up assessment attributable to age, height, weight, weight gain, smoking status, pack-years, and years worked in dusty areas were examined using stepwise multiple linear regression techniques. Smoking, aging, being overweight, excessive weight gain, and dust exposure were related to a lower level and a steeper slope of decline of pulmonary function. Cigarette smoking was also an important risk factor. Dust exposure was related to the level of lung function, with a stronger effect at baseline than at follow-up. Estimated loss at baseline of FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC% was 9.3, 6.4 ml, and 0.1 % per year of employment in a dusty area, respectively, whereas the association between dust exposure and longitudinal decline of lung function was weak. However, a strong relationship between weight gain and longitudinal decline of FEV1 and FVC was found. Estimated decreases in FEV1 and FVC attributable to weight gain were 4.7 and 6.3 ml per lb/yr, respectively. This work suggests that weight gain is an important determinant for longitudinal lung function decline. This large impact of weight gain in the decline of lung function in a middle-age and relatively overweight working population has not been previously reported. Additional work needs to be undertaken to show the strength of this relationship in other populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in flour processing workers in the baking industry.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in 63 flour processing male bakery workers in Umtata, Transkei, Southern Africa. The controls were from a bottling plant in the same city. Both groups were black Africans from the Xhosa-speaking population. The studied population was nonsmoking and no significant difference was noted in age, race, sex, or height between the groups. The exposed workers had significantly lower forced expiratory indices than the control group. Mean percent predicted values of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100), forced mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FMF), forced expiratory flow between the first 200 ml and 1,200 ml of FVC (FEF 200-1,200), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were, respectively, 11.2%, 20.0%, 31.0%, 27.4%, and 36.1% lower in the exposed group compared with the controls. The prevalence of forced expiratory ratio less than 70% in the exposed group was 37% while in the controls it was 8%. The prevalence of PEF rate less than 5 1/s in the exposed group was 32% while in the controls it was 11%. The exposed workers reported a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms compared to the controls. The prevalence of nasal symptoms, phlegm, and cough in the exposed workers was 53.9%, 30.1%, and 25.4%, respectively. The present study demonstrated that exposure to flour dust in flour processing workers in the baking industry is associated with significantly lower pulmonary functions and a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and that these workers show signs of airway obstruction, compared to workers not exposed to flour.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Heart and arterial disease risk factor levels in the Scottish workforce: cross-sectional study of risk factor levels. The SHARP Committee. Scottish Heart and Arterial Disease Risk Prevention.

Between 1991-93 a specially trained team of nurses screened 19,435 subjects from various workforces in different regions of Scotland to identify cardiovascular disease risk factor levels in the Scottish working population. The regions visited provided a wide geographical spread. Name, age, occupation, social class, personal and family history of cardiovascular disease were recorded along with consumption of tobacco, alcohol and salt. Height and weight were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated; systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, blood glucose and blood cholesterol were also measured. The proportion of social class I-IV in men studied was 49, 22, 22, and 7% respectively and in women 28, 29, 39 and 5%. Fifty two per cent of men and 61% of women had never smoked and 24% of men and 17% of women had previously stopped smoking. Twenty one per cent of both sexes were still smoking. Eighteen per cent of men drank more than 21 units of alcohol per week and 3.4% of women drank more than 14 units per week. Mean values of SBP and DBP increased with age and the percentage with hypertension (> or = 148/90 mm Hg) in men and women was 5% and 24% respectively. Mean BMI was slightly higher in men than women (25.3 & 24.5 respectively) and there was a significant (p < 0.01) rise in BMI with age in both sexes. Forty six per cent of men and 32% of women were classified as overweight (BMI > 25) while 9% of men and 9% of women were classified as obese (BMI > 30).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary function in normal non-smoking black southern African adults.

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100) and forced mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FMF) were measured in 3000 lifelong non-smoking Xhosa black Southern African adult population aged 20-60 yr from Umtata in the Transkei in Southern Africa. FVC, FEV1 and FMF were highly correlated with each other and all were highly correlated with age and standing height. The normal ranges for spirometric measurements were narrower than in many previous studies. Mean FVC in the present study was 13% higher than predicted values from other African adults. The present study is the most recent and the largest study of black Africans using the American Thoracic Society 1987 selection criteria of pulmonary function curves and can be used as a reference value for mainly Xhosa black Southern African adult population.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary function and symptoms in workers exposed to wood dust.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to wood dust can cause a variety of lung problems, including chronic airflow obstruction. METHODS: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100), forced expiratory flow (FEF), forced mid expiratory flow (FMF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, breathlessness, wheezing, and nasal symptoms) were recorded in 145 non-smoking workers (77 male, 68 female) exposed to wood dust in a furniture factory in Umtata, Republic of Transkei, and 152 non-smoking control subjects (77 male, 75 female) from a bottling factory with a clean environment. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and standing height the forced expiratory indices were significantly lower in the exposed male workers than in the control subjects. FEF and PEF in the exposed men were 81.3% and 89.4% of predicted values and were lower than other indices. FVC in exposed men showed a significant inverse correlation with exposure (expressed in number of years of employment). The FVC was reduced by 26 ml per year of employment. The proportion of men with an FEV1/FVC below 70 was higher in exposed workers than in control subjects and higher in the exposed workers with more years of employment. The exposed workers had more respiratory symptoms than the control subjects, the prevalence, especially of cough and nasal symptoms, increasing with the increase in the number of years of employment. CONCLUSION: Workers exposed to pine and fibre dust have more respiratory symptoms and a greater risk of airflow obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Growth of normal urban black Southern African children aged 6-19 years.

Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and height gain were studied in two-thousand normal urban black Southern African schoolchildren from Umtata, Republic of Transkei, Southern Africa. The height-for-age data in the present study were less than those of the USA National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) data and the overall distribution of height for age was between the 3rd and 75th percentiles of NCHS. In boys, after the age of 13 years, the weight-for-age data in the present study were statistically less than NCHS and the overall distribution of weight-for-age data was between the 10th and 75th percentiles of NCHS. The weight for height in the present study was slightly greater than NCHS and the overall distribution of weight for height data was between 25th and 90th percentiles of NCHS. Adolescent growth spurt occurred in girls at the age of around 11 years, while in boys it occurred around 12 years. The mean duration of the pubertal period was 2 years for boys and girls. Peak height velocity (PHV) was 7.7 and 7.9 cm/year in boys and girls, respectively. The present study may be used a source of reference for urban black schoolchildren in Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Forced expiratory indices in normal black southern African children aged 6-19 years.

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100), forced mid expiratory flow (FMF), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured in 2000 non-smoking black African schoolchildren aged 6-19 years from Umtata in the Republic of Transkei in Southern Africa. FVC, FEV1, FMF, and PEF were highly correlated with each other and all were highly correlated with age and standing height in both sexes. There was a significant negative correlation between FEV1/FVC and both age and standing height. An increase in the slope of the increase in FVC for both age and height occurred at 11 years and 143 cm in girls and at 13 years and 150 cm in boys. This continued for about two years and 10 cm in both groups before it declined. The mean values of FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF in the present study were 14% lower than those obtained in black American schoolchildren. The present study is the largest study of urban black African schoolchildren and provides useful reference values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Growth rate and anthropometry of a Libyan population.

Body weight, standing height, skin-fold thicknesses at four sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac) and percent fat were measured in 1800 Libyan children and adults aged 6-25 years. There was a marked difference in anthropometric measurements between boys and girls at the age of 14 years. Libyan children have the same rate of increase in standing height as European children. Percentage fat was correlated significantly (P less than 0.05) with body mass index. Percentage fat in girls was twice that in boys during all stages of growth. The present study can be used as a source of reference for a Libyan population.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Forced expiratory indices in normal Libyan men.

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio in the first second (FEV1% VC), forced expiratory flow between 200 and 1200 ml (FEF200-1200), and forced mid expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FMF) were measured in 275 Libyan men ranging from 20 to 60 years. All values were lower with increasing age and, apart from FEV1% VC, were positively correlated with standing height. This study can be used as a source of reference for Libyan men.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Forced expiratory indices in normal Libyan children aged 6-19 years.

Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured in 796 Libyan children (386 boys and 410 girls) with ages ranging from 6 to 19 years. Values in girls were significantly less than those in boys after allowance had been made for age and height. FVC and FEV1 correlated best with standing height but were also correlated with body weight. These results may be used as a source of standard values for Libyan children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in a group of women weavers in South Africa.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in 97 women carpet weavers in a hand-made carpet weaving industry in Umtata, Transkei, South Africa. The controls were from a bottling plant in the same city. Both groups were Black Africans from the Xhosa-speaking population. The population we studied were non-smokers and there was no significant difference in age, race or height between the groups. The exposed weavers had significantly lower forced expiratory indices than the control group. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF 25-75%), forced expiratory flow between 200 ml and 1200 ml of forced vital capacity (FEF 200-1200), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were: 26.0%, 39.0%, 36.4% and 28.5% lower respectively in the exposed group compared with the controls. Mean forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100) were 22.0% and 6.6% lower respectively in the exposed group compared with the controls. The percentage predicted (%pred) values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25-75%, FEF 200-1200, and PEF in the exposed group were 82.9%, 77.1%, 95.6%, 64.6%, 72.2% and 82.8%, respectively. The prevalence of FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70% in the exposed group was 37.2%, while in the controls it was 12%. The exposed group reported a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms compared to the control. The prevalence of nasal symptoms and cough was 62.8% and 58.1%, respectively in the weavers. Weavers who reported cough, breathlessness, and wheezing had significantly (p < 0.01) lower pulmonary function than those who did not report these symptoms. The present study demonstrates that the continual exposure to dust in weavers in this industry is associated with significantly lower pulmonary function, higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and weavers show signs of airway obstruction compared to workers not exposed to this type of dust. Women in the weaving industry have a significant occupationally related respiratory impairment.

Adult↗