Google trends, una herramienta útil para detectar la presencia de polen atmosférico / Google trends, useful tool in airborne pollen detection

La polinosis es una de las alergias más comunes en el mundo, condicionando de manera directa la calidad de vida de la población, siendo la polinosis al olivo una de las más frecuentes en zonas de clima Mediterráneo. La previsión de los niveles de polen en la atmósfera se ha convertido en un objetivo fundamental para alergólogos y aerobiólogos, tratando de prevenir los síntomas de la polinosis. Google trends es una herramienta desarrollada por Google, que nos facilita información acerca de la dinámica de búsquedas de los usuarios a través de internet. Como objetivo principal de este trabajo se pretende realizar un valoración preliminar de la utilidad de esta herramienta para detectar la presencia de polen en la atmósfera y para explorar el impacto de polinosis entre la población.Para alcanzar dichos objetivos se han empleado datos aerobiológicos sobre concentración de polen de olivo en la atmósfera de Córdoba (España) y datos sobre tendencias de búsqueda en el buscador Google de las palabras ôAlergiaõ, ôPolenõ y ôOlivoõ. Se ha observado una elevada correlación y relación geográfica entre la tendencia de búsquedas de palabras relacionadas con polinosis y las concentraciones reales de polen atmosférico. Esta herramienta posee una gran potencial en la lucha contra la polinosis, ya que permite conocer información instantánea acerca de los síntomas en la problación, a diferencia de los métodos tradicionales que presentan un desfase de la información. De este modo, el presente trabajo ofrece evidencias acerca del potencial de Google trends para detectar la presencia de aeroalérgenos y para estudiar el impacto de la polinosis...

Pollinosis is one of the most extended allergies in the world, determining directly the quality of life of the population. Airborne pollen forecasting has become a key objective for allergists and aerobiologists trying to prevent the symptoms of hay fever. Google trends is a tool developed by Google, which provides information about the dynamics of user searches through internet. The main aim of this work is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the usefulness of this tool to detect the presence of large concentrations of pollen in the atmosphere and to explore the impact of pollinosis among the population.To achieve these objectives, the analysis is based on data for olive pollen concentrations in the atmosphere of Cordoba (Spain) and search counts in Google of the words "Allergy", "Pollen" and "Olive". We observed a high correlation and a high geographic relationship between the number of searches for words related to pollen allergy, and the actual concentrations of atmospheric pollen. This tool possesses a great potential in the fight against allergy because it can provide instant and on-line information about symptoms in population, unlike traditional methods that have a mismatch of information. Thus, the present study provides evidence about the potential of Google trends to detect the presence of aeroallergens and to study the impact of pollinosis...

Pet exposure and the symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in 6-7 years old children

Allergic diseases are frequent in children and their prevalence and severity differ in the different regions of the world. The association between pet ownership in childhood and subsequent asthma and sensitization is very controversial. In our survey conducted with standardized method [International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood], 3200 children 6-7 years old were questioned regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. The prevalence of Attacks and shortness of breath with wheezing during last 12 months in the children who had exposure to pets in the first year of life was 34.3% that was less than children who had not exposure [OR=3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-8.21, P=0.021]. Also during the past 12 months the prevalence of night dry coughs, allergic rhinitis symptoms and eczema symptoms in those who had pet exposure in the first year of their life was lower than the children did not have it. However there was no significant difference in some other symptoms of asthma in two groups. Our findings suggest that pet exposure in the first year of life can have a protective effect on asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema

[Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in 13-14 year old school children in Hamedan]

Allergic Rhinitis [AR] is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa characterized by nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and itching and often accompanied by sneezing and conjunctival irritation. Two prerequisites for the expression of AR are sensitivity to an allergen and its presence in the environment. Recognition of allergens and removal and avoidance of them can decrease the prevalence of AR. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of AR in Hamedan, Iran, and recognition of effective factors involved in expression of AR. The study was undertaken between October 2005 and June 2006 among 13- to 14-year-old children in middle-schools of Hamedan. Data were collected using the standardized ISAAC written questionnaire for prevalence of AR and another questionnaire for effective factors on AR including gender, season of expression of AR, smoking parents, keeping pets and birds, apartment plants, breast milking and family size. In the second phase the students with AR were examined for signs of AR. A total of 1600 [900 girls and 700 boys] children participated in the study. 17.7% of the children had symptoms of allergic rhinitis sometime in their life. There was no significant difference between prevalence of AR between boys and girls [18.6% in the boys and 17% in the girls] [p>0.05]. 37.2% of the cases were perennial and 62.8% of them were seasonal or mixed type. AR was more prevalent in spring [21%]. The prevalence of the disease between students with smoking parents and non smoking parents were 30.6% and 11.2% respectively [P=0.001]. The prevalence of the disease between students with pets and without pets were 23.1% and 17.7% respectively [P=0.001]. Presence of apartment plants, type of nutrition and family size had no effect on prevalence of AR [P>0.05]. The most common signs of AR were allergic shiners [54%] and clear and dilute nasal secretion [51%]. Compared with previous studies conducted in other Iranian cities using similar method, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis was lower in Hamedan. The prevalence of AR may be reduced with avoidance of smoking and removal of pets

A homeopatia e uma resposta placebo? / Is the homeopathy a placebo response?

Num experimento duplo-cego randomizado, foi testada a hipotese de que as potencias homeopaticas sao placebo. O modelo escolhido para estudo comparou, os efeitos de uma preparacao de mistura de polens de capim com placebo, em 144 pacientes com Febre do Feno ativa. A resposta era mais significativa quando os resultados eram corrigidos para a dose de polen, e quando ela estava associada a uma diminuicao de 50% da necessidade de anti-histaminicos. Nos pacientes que receberam o tratamento homeopatico foi notada, inicialmente, uma agravacao mais frequente dos sintomas, seguida de melhora. Nao houve evidencia que sustentasse a ideia de que a acao do placebo explica, completamente, as respostas clinicas para as drogas homeopaticas