Impact of Pollen Counts and Air Pollution Over Hospital Visits for Respiratory Illnesses in North Delhi Region

Background. Ambient aeroallergens and organic or inorganic air pollutants are known to cause asthma exacerbation and subsequent asthma-related hospital admissions. Methods. This study was carried out to study the impact of meteorological factors, air pollution, pollens over hospital visits for respiratory illness in north Delhi region from July 2014 to June 2015. Daily monitoring of pollen grains was done on the roof of the multistorey building (height up to 20m) of the Institute. Meteorological factors including temperature, relative humidity, and precipitations were recorded daily. Daily concentrations of nitric dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were also recorded. Number of hospital visits of patients with respiratory illness were assessed in relation to air pollutants (NO2, SO2 and PM2.5) and climate change (temperature, relative humidity and rain). Results. During the study period, 113,462 pollen counts were recorded. Two highest peaks of mean pollen counts were observed in post-monsoon season (October-2014) and in the spring season (March 2015). The maximum and minimum pollen concentration was observed in the month of March 2015 (18818/m3) and August 2014 (4731/m3). Our results showed that pollen numbers significantly correlated with respiratory emergency department patient visits (P=0.037, r=0.604), and temperature and humidity (P=0.711, r=-120, and (P=0.670, r=-0.137), respectively. NO2 significantly correlated with SO2, respiratory emergency department patient visits and new respiratory OPD patients (P=0.017, r=0.670, P=0.031, r=0.622 and P=0.016, r=0.675, respectively). A statistically significant correlation between rainfall and SO2 was observed (P=0.004, r=-0.757) in the present study. Conclusion. Our study suggests that significant increase in pollen concentration and air pollutants in the ambient environment causes respiratory illness.

Enfermedad meningocóccica en la Región Metropolitana de Chile y su correlación con factores ambientales / Meningococcal disease in the Metropolitan Region of Chile and its correlation with environmental factors

Introduction: Meningococcal disease (MD) is a public health problem worldwide, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Most cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a marked seasonal pattern with predominance during the dry season. Objectives: To describe the morbidity of MD in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile and explore whether there is a correlation between the number of cases with the levels of atmospheric particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2.5, relative humidity (RH), temperature and total environmental pollen. Materials and Methods: Ecological time series study, statistical analysis with R 3.0.1, graphics with Excel 2013. Results: Between 2010 and 2013, 234 MD cases were reported in the MR with an increasing trend. There is a seasonal pattern with an increase of cases from August to October, and a decrease from March to April. There is no correlation with the levels of PM10 and PM2.5. There is a slight positive correlation with RH and a slight negative correlation with temperature. There is a moderate positive correlation with the levels of total environmental pollens. Discussion: Overcrowding and the winter viral infections could explain the increased incidence of MD and the slight correlation with RH and temperature. The moderate correlation with the pollens could be explained by an effect of irritation of the upper airway. Conclusions: More epidemiological studies whose designs allow a greater causal inference are required.

Introducción: La enfermedad meningocóccica (EM) constituye un problema de salud pública mundial debido a su alta morbi-mortalidad. La mayor cantidad de casos ocurre en África subsahariana, donde existe un marcado patrón estacional en la estación seca. Objetivos: Describir la morbilidad de la EM en la Región Metropolitana (RM) de Chile y explorar si existe correlación entre el número de casos con PM 10, PM 2,5 humedad relativa (HR), temperatura y pólenes ambientales totales. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio ecológico tipo series de tiempo, análisis estadístico con R 3.0.1, gráficos con Excel 2013. Resultados: En el período 2010-2013 se notificaron 234 casos de EM en la RM, con una tendencia al alza. Se observa un patrón estacional con aumento de casos entre agosto y octubre y una disminución entre marzo y abril. No existe correlación con los niveles de PM 10 ni de PM 2,5. Se describe una correlación positiva leve con la HR y negativa leve con la temperatura. Existe correlación moderada positiva con los niveles de pólenes totales ambientales. Discusión: El hacinamiento y las infecciones virales de invierno podrían explicar el aumento de casos de EM y la correlación leve con la HR y la temperatura. La correlación moderada con los pólenes podría explicarse por un efecto de irritación de la vía aérea superior. Conclusiones: Se requieren más estudios epidemiológicos cuyos diseños permitan una mayor inferencia causal.

The RHINASTHMA GAV scores without SLIT, at the beginning and at the end of seasonal SLIT.

Background: The impact of treatments for allergic rhinitis on health-related quality of life (HRQL) becomes more and more important in the view of patients, physicians and payers, but not much is known about the effect of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on this outcome parameter. Methods: In a prospective observational study, health-related quality of life was assessed with the German adapted version of a new specific questionnaire (RHINASTHMA GAV) in patients with allergic rhinitis with or without mild to moderate asthma due to grass, cereal, and/or rye pollen who were treated with seasonal high-dose SLIT with standardized allergen extracts. Results: 358 patients aged 5 - 68 years, mean ± SD disease duration of 8.8 ± 9.2 years were evaluated. During SLIT, the mean total score and all 5 mean sub-scale scores were substantially reduced by 36% to 55%. Subgroup analyses did not reveal any clinically relevant deviations from the results in the total study population. At the end of SLIT, mean total score and sub-scale scores were virtually identical to those scores assessed during the validation procedure of RHINASTHMA GAV in healthy subjects without rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or asthma. These improvements in HRQL during SLIT were paralleled by substantially reduced disease-related burden, in terms of symptom scores and health-related impairment in daily life and at work. Conclusion: The improvement in HRQL during seasonal SLIT was clinically relevant and reached scores close to normal already in the first pollen season.

Cross - reactivity between pollens in patients sensitlzed to multiple pollens / 천식및알레르기

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate cross - reactivity between pollens in patients with strong skin reactivity to multiple pollens. METHODS: A pool of sera from 20 patients who showed strong skin responses( > or = 3+ ) to all three kinds of pollens ( tree, grass, and weed ) was used. Oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens were chosen for the subject of study. The level and pattern of bound IgE to each pollen and cross - reactivity between pollens were investigated by ELISA and immunoblot experiments. RESULTS: In ELISA, the IgE of a pool of sera reacted to ryegrass and ragweed in 100%, to mugwort in 95%, to oak in 75%, and to hop Japanese in 65%, respectively. In inhibitory ELI - SA, more than 50% of bound IgE was mutually inhibited in oak vs ryegrass, oak vs mugwort, mugwort vs ryegrass and mugwort vs hop Japanese. In immunoblot, the IgE binding rate to major allergens of each pollen was 95% for hop Japanese, 75% for ragweed, 50% for ryegrass, 35% for mugwort, and 30% for oak, respectively. In inhibitory immunoblot, the mutually inhibited bound IgE could not be observed between major allergens of each pollen, but some minor allergens of oak pollen were mutually inhibited by ryegrass. CONCLUSION: Cross - reactivity between major allergens of oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens was not observed at all, but some minor allergens of oak pollen cross-reacted with ryegrass and mugwort, and so did those of mugwort pollen with ryegrass and hop Japanese.

The Correlation between DDVP Resistance of Culex pipiens pattens and Esterase Activity / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To detect the resistance index and esterase activity of each generation of DDVP-resistant Culex mosquitoes and analyze the relationship between insecticide resistance and esterase. Methods WHO bioassay and micro-plate measurement were used for the detection. Results The resistance index increased to 12.17 after 43 generations' insecticide selection compared to 1.00 as sensitive isolate. The nonspecific esterase(NSE) activity of the mosquitoes became strengthened with the extension of the generations, and the individual frequency of those with OD values no less than 0.9 increased gradually, consistent basically to the bioassay. The AChE average inhibition rate decreased with the extended generation and increased resistance, and the individual frequency of those with inhibition rate less than 30% became strengthened with the extension of generations, showing a positive correlation. Conclusion The activity of NSE and AChE shows a correlation with DDVP resistance.

Aeroallergens in songkla province.

An all year round survey of atmospheric pollens and molds was made in Hat Yai, Songkla Province in the south of Thailand by Durham’s standard gravity method from 1st January 1984 to 31st December 1984. Most aeroallergens found were mold spores, with Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) on top of the list, and Helminthosporium, Alternaria, Ascospore, Fusarium, Curvalaria, Torula, Rust, Stemphylium Smut, Tetraploa, and Ledtosporium were found to be less common in that order. Grass pollens were found in low counts, as well as weed pollens, which most of them belong to the group of Chenopod-Amaranthus. Unidentifiable pollens were found in high counts, and were probably the pollens of para rubber, cashew, corn, oil palm or wattle. The atmospheric pollens and mold spores were found throughout the year with highest peak in summer and lowest in November and December when there was heavy rain.