Current techniques to measure alterations in the ciliary activity of intact respiratory epithelium.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Rylander.
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The effects of bacterial endotoxins are well known form an experimental and clinical point of view. Their presence in the environment in general and their possible role for the development of clinical symptoms at low exposure levels has been less studied. Experimental and epidemiological evidence for such effects are reviewed with reference to particular environments where this exposure might be present.
Guinea pigs were acutely exposed to different airborne dusts and freshly generated cigarette smoke. The effect was evaluated by counting the number of free lung cells using a lavage method. An exposure to MnO2 and smoke on the same day caused an increase in the number of leukocytes 24 h thereafter. By increasing the time interval between the MnO2 and smoke exposure, the effect gradually disappeared. Al2O2 or SiO2 also caused an increase in the number of leukocytes, whereas TiO2 had no effect. The pathogenesis behind the reaction and the epidemiological implications are discussed.
In this study, the authors investigated the possible relationship between environmental-including dietary-factors and respiratory and ear infections in children. A sample of 304 children, aged 4-5 y, in Geneva, Switzerland, was studied. Mothers filled out a questionnaire that the authors provided. The questionnaire included items on food frequency, infections, and background factors (e.g., education, housing conditions, parents' smoking habits). Allergy was a risk factor for all infections, and mother's age was a protective factor. Humid conditions at home was a significant risk factor for cold, sore throat, and otitis (odds ratios = 2.71, 3.03, and 2.77, respectively); mold in the home was a significant risk factor for otitis (odds ratio = 2.80); and attending day-care centers was a significant risk factor for cold and bronchitis (odds ratios = 1.36 and 1.89, respectively). Dietary factors were not related to disease risk nor were environmental tobacco smoke or housing conditions generally related to an increased risk.
The annoyance due to road traffic noise was studied in 18 areas in five countries. A total of 1379 interviews was performed and noise measurements were made in each area. The relation between Leq and the extent of the population expressing that they were "very annoyed" was poor (rxy = 0.03). An augmentation of the number of heavy vehicles from 1000/24 hr up to greater than 3000/24 hr did not increase the extent of annoyance. The highest correlation was obtained for the maximum noise level. The dose-response relationship implies that the number of events above a certain limit will not increase the extent of annoyance: it is determined by the highest noise level from single vehicles. It is suggested that this model for the human reaction to environmental noise, which has now been demonstrated for aircraft, train, and traffic noise, should be considered for the establishment of standards.
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A questionnaire study was performed in seven areas located around the airports of Landvetter and Save, Gothenburg, in an attempt to elucidate the extent of annoyance in populations exposed to aircraft noise. Noise exposure was estimated as the energy equivalent level (Aircraft Noise Level--FBN) or as the number of aircraft with levels that exceeded 70 dBA, combined with the maximum noise level. The results were compared with data obtained from the earlier Scandinavian Aircraft Noise Investigation. The results supported the conclusion that the annoyance reaction is better related to the number of aircraft and the maximum noise level than to energy equivalent levels for noise exposure.
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Changes in symptoms and airway responsiveness among persons who worked in a day-care center that had microbial growth problems were assessed before and after renovation. Before and after the building renovation, the investigators used the Limulus assay with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-specific lysate to measure airborne levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a cell-wall component of molds. Airway responsiveness and subjective symptoms were measured among 14 female employees with a methacholine test and a standardized questionnaire. After the renovation, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-glucan levels decreased from 11.4 to 1.4 ng/m3. The number of persons who had increased airway responsiveness decreased after the renovation. Two employees developed a classical allergy to cat and pollen during the observation period. Although the study included only a few subjects and was based on only one day-care center, the data suggest that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan may be related to airways inflammation caused by indoor air pollution.
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