Animals ; Asthma/pathology* ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunoglobulin E/blood* ; Incidence ; Lung/pathology* ; Mice ; Pollen/chemistry* ; Populus/adverse effects* ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVES: While epidemiologic research indicates that the prevalence of risk-taking behaviors including cigarette smoking among young people with asthma is substantial, the longitudinal patterns of cigarette smoking in this vulnerable population have received little attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the longitudinal trajectories of cigarette use behaviors from adolescence to adulthood between young people with and without asthma. METHODS: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) during the years 1994 to 1995 (Wave I, adolescence), 2001 to 2002 (Wave III, young adulthood), and 2007 to 2008 (Wave IV, adulthood) were analyzed (n=12 244). Latent growth curve models were used to examine the longitudinal trajectories of cigarette use behaviors during the transition to adulthood according to asthma status. RESULTS: Regardless of asthma status, the trajectory means of cigarette use behaviors were found to increase, and then slightly decrease from adolescence to adulthood. In total participants, there were no statistically significant differences in initial levels and changes in cigarette use behaviors according to asthma status. However, in select sex and race subgroups (i.e., females and non-whites), former asthmatics showed greater escalation in cigarette use behaviors than did non-asthmatics or current asthmatics. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the changing patterns of cigarette use behaviors during the transition to adulthood among young people with asthma are comparable to or even more drastic than those among young people without asthma.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Adult ; Asthma/*pathology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; *Smoking/epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent disease worldwide but is still underdiagnosed in many parts of Asia. We studied the clinical profiles of AR patients in our community based on the new ARIA classification and investigated the aetiological allergens using a skin prick test.

MATERIALS AND METHODSIn 2008, 142 newly diagnosed patients with AR were seen and underwent skin prick testing with 90 patients completing the study.

RESULTSIntermittent mild and moderate/severe AR were evident in 10% and 21.1% of the patients, while persistent mild and moderate/severe were seen in 20% and 48.9%, respectively. Rhinitis and asthma co-morbidity occurred in 28.8% with asthma incidence significantly higher in persistent AR (P = 0.002). There was no significant association between AR severity, city living and asthma co-morbidity. Nasal itchiness and sneezing were the main presenting complaints and were more common in intermittent AR (P <0.05). Sleep disturbance was associated with moderate-severe AR (P <0.05). Polypoidal mucosa was associated with asthma co-morbidity (P <0.05). Monosensitivity reaction occurred in 12.2% of patients and was associated with fungi sensitivity (P <0.05). Majority of patients were oligosensitive (52.8%) and polysensitive (34.4%) and were significantly associated with moderate-severe persistent AR (P <0.01). The highest positive skin prick reaction and the largest average wheal diameter were for the house dust mites and cat allergen (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results reflected the AR profiles in our country, which was comparable with typical profiles of the neighbouring country and other Mediterranean countries with a similar temperate climate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Cats ; Female ; Fungi ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malaysia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Skin Tests ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Statistics as Topic ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Asthma ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; pathology ; China ; Humans ; Pleural Diseases ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Pulmonary Medicine ; methods ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; pathology

The bronchial pathology of asymptomatic airway hyperreponsiveness (AHR) subjects is not well understood, and the role of atopy in the development of airway remodeling is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether atopy is associated with airway remodeling in asymptomatic AHR subjects. Five groups, i.e., atopic or non-atopic subjects with asymptomatic AHR, atopic or non-atopic healthy controls, and subjects with mild atopic asthma, were evaluated by bronchoscopic biopsy. By electron microscopy, mean reticular basement membrane (RBM) thicknesses were 4.3+/-1.7 micrometer, 3.4+/-1.8 micrometer, 2.5+/-1.5 micrometer, 2.6+/-1.1 micrometer, and 2.3+/-1.2 micrometer in the mild atopic asthma, atopic and non-atopic asymptomatic AHR, atopic and nonatopic control groups, respectively (p=0.002). RBM thicknesses were significantly higher in the mild atopic asthma group and in the atopic asymptomatic AHR group than in the other three groups (p=0.048). No significant difference in RBM thickness was observed between the atopic asymptomatic AHR group and the mild atopic asthma group (p>0.05), nor between non-atopic asymptomatic AHR group and the two control groups (p>0.05). By light microscopy, subepithelial layer thicknesses between the groups showed the same results. These findings suggest that RBM thickening occurs in subjects with atopic asymptomatic AHR, and that atopy plays an important role in airway remodeling.
Adult ; Asthma/epidemiology/*pathology ; Basement Membrane/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Biopsy ; Bronchi/pathology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/epidemiology/*pathology ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*epidemiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Respiratory Mucosa/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Risk Factors