Association of airborne particles, protein, and endotoxin with emergency department visits for asthma in Kyoto, Japan

BACKGROUND@#The health effects of biological aerosols on the respiratory system are unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of airborne particle, protein, and endotoxin with emergency department visits for asthma in Kyoto City, Japan.@*METHODS@#We collected data on emergency department visits at a hospital in Kyoto from September 2014 to May 2016. Fine (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) and coarse (≥ 2.5 μm) particles were collected in Kyoto, and protein and endotoxin levels were analyzed. The association of the levels of particles, protein, endotoxin, and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and air pressure) with emergency department visits for asthma was estimated.@*RESULTS@#There were 1 to 15 emergency department visits for asthma per week, and the numbers of visits increased in the autumn and spring, namely many weeks in September, October, and April. Weekly concentration of protein in fine particles was markedly higher than that in coarse particles, and protein concentration in fine particles was high in spring months. Weekly endotoxin concentrations in fine and coarse particles were high in autumn months, including September 2014 and 2015. Even after adjusting for meteorological factors, the concentrations of coarse particles and endotoxin in both particles were significant factors on emergency department visits for asthma.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our results suggest that atmospheric coarse particles and endotoxin are significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma exacerbation.

Analysis of Various Factors Affecting Prolonged Respiratory Care after Closure of Ventricular Septal Defect in Patients Less than 2 Years of Age / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

During past 7 years, 43 patients less than 2 years of age underwent closure of the ventricular septal defect. Durations of postoperative use of a respirator were 3 days or less in 30 patients (short-period group) and over 3 days in remaining 13 patients (long-period group). There was no operative death. Pre-, intra- and postoperative factors affecting prolonged respiratory care were analyzed between two groups. Results were as follows: There were statistically significant differences between short- and long-period groups on age (9.7 versus 6.5 months), body weight (6.3 versus 5.2kg) at surgery, necessity of preoperative respiratory care on respirator (0/30 versus 4/13), duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (108 versus 132min.), aortic clamp time (56 versus 70min.) and respiratory index at the first postoperative day (1.1 versus 1.7). These results revealed the necessity of far earlier surgical intervention in symptomatic patients before respiratory distress develops. Furthermore, shorter cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamp times should always be in mind for attaining smooth postoperative course.