Allergic diseases and asthma in the family predict the persistence and onset-age of asthma: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundFamily history of asthma and other allergic diseases have been linked to the risk of childhood asthma previously, but little is known about their effect on the age-of-onset and persistency of asthma until young adulthood.MethodsWe assessed the effect of the family history of asthma and allergic diseases on persistent vs. transient, and early- vs. late-onset persistent asthma in The Espoo Cohort Study 1991–2011, a population-based cohort study of 1623 subjects (follow-up rate 63.2%). The determinants were any family history (any parent or sibling); maternal; paternal; siblings only; parents only; and both siblings and parents. Analyses were conducted separately for asthma and allergic diseases while taking the other disease into account as a confounding factor. The outcomes were persistent, transient, early-onset persistent (<13 years) and late-onset persistent asthma. Adjusted risk ratios (RR) were calculated applying Poisson regression. Q-statistics were used to assess heterogeneity between RRs.ResultsFamily history was associated with the different subtypes but the magnitude of effect varied quantitatively. Any family history of asthma was a stronger determinant of persistent (adjusted RR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.99-4.00) than transient asthma (1.65, 1.03-2.65) (heterogeneity: P = 0.07) and on early-onset than late-onset persistent asthma. Also any family history of allergic diseases was a stronger determinant of persistent and early-onset asthma. The impact of paternal asthma continued to young adulthood (early-onset: 3.33, 1.57-7.06 vs. late-onset 2.04, 0.75-5.52) while the influence of maternal asthma decreased with age (Early-onset 3.94, 2.11-7.36 vs. Late-onset 0.88, 0.28-2.81). Paternal allergic diseases did not follow the pattern of paternal asthma, since they showed no association with late-onset asthma. Also the effect estimates for other subtypes were lower than in other hereditary groups (persistent 1.29, 0.75-2.22 vs. transient 1.20, 0.67-2.15 and early-onset 1.86, 0.95-3.64 vs. late-onset 0.64, 0.22-1.80).ConclusionsFamily history of asthma and allergic diseases are strong determinants of asthma, but the magnitude of effect varies according to the hereditary group so that some subtypes have a stronger hereditary component, and others may be more strongly related to environmental exposures. Our results provide useful information for assessing the prognosis of asthma based on a thorough family history.     

Evaluation of the viability and germination of tempisque [<i>Sideroxylon capiri</i> (A.DC.) Pittier Sapotaceae]

The tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri) is a tree native to Mexico used by the rural population for housing construction, poles and hedges, as fuel (wood) and also for fodder and ornamental purposes, among others. It is considered an endangered species. In order to contribute to its preservation and sustainable management, it was considered important to determine the proportion of viable seeds, the loss of viability due to storage period and the germination process by applying pregerminative treatments. We found that freshly collected seeds showed 100% viability, which decreased to 0% after 5 months of storage. According to the cumulative germination significant differences between treatments (p≤0.01) were found. It was observed that seeds can accelerate their time of germination with the previous exposure of 24 h in water at room temperature. The soaking treatment in water for 24 h at room temperature obtained final germination of 55%, while with the control 39% was reached. Soaking in hydrogen peroxide and scarification were the treatments with lower germination percentage (33 and 23%, respectively). To get a higher percentage of germinated seeds in a short time, it is necessary to give a soaking treatment in water for 24 h before sowing.     

Immunotropic properties of exoglycan obtained from the marine micro-organism Vibrio alginolyticus]

Immune system modulating activity of exoglycane isolated from culture media of Vibrio alginolyticus (strain 945-80) was investigated. The substance demonstrated stimulating activity on the humoral and cell immune system, potentiated phagocyte activity of macrophage and neutrophils, increased survival index of the animals infected by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.     

The Effect of the X-Monosome Cell Clone Frequency on Anthropometric Variation in Patients with Shereshevsky–Turner Syndrome

Using methods of mathematical statistics the relationships were determined between 31 anthropometric traits (ATs) and the frequency of the X-monosome cell clone in 53 patients with either 45,X-monosomy or mosaic forms (45,X/46,XX) of the Shereshevsky–Turner syndrome (STS). AT variations were studied in patients untreated with growth hormone and in 25 control fertile healthy women. In 29 patients, the degree of mosaicism was assessed by interphase FISH analysis using X-centromer-specific DNA probe hybridized to the cell nuclei of two types of tissues differing in embryonic origin (lymphocytes and oral epithelium, originating from meso- and ectoderm, respectively). The level of X-monosome mosaicism had a substantial effect on some AT, which depended similarly on the proportion of X-monosome cells in tissues of different embryonic origin. Statistically significant negative correlations were revealed between the size of X-monosome clone and 13 height–weight, longitudinal, and circumference traits, whereas positive correlations were characteristic of seven mostly width traits. Eleven ATs showed no correlation with the X-monosome cell clone. Discriminant analysis of all ATs, whose variations depended on the frequency of X-monosome cell clone, was found to be an essential tool for precise classification of both STS patients with different degree of mosaicism and healthy women. Based on these results, the set of ATs characteristic of the STS phenotype was identified.     

High-current plasma channel produced with a narrow gas column

A new method for creating high-current plasma channels is developed. The method uses a narrow gas column formed by the leading particles of a nonsteady gas jet outflowing into a vacuum. An electric discharge device with a system for the formation of a narrow gas column is experimentally studied. The parameters of emission from the plasma channel are measured.     

Influence of aflatoxin B1 on seed germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of mustard (brassica juncea L. var. pusa bold) seeds

Five different concentrations (100, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 μg/L of aflatoxin B₁ were found to be inhibitory to seed germination and seedling growth (root and shoot lengths) of mustard seeds (variety Pusa bold). These also lowered the levels of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the emerging leaves during seedling growth. The inhibitory effect was correlated with the concentration of applied toxin.     

Methylation profile of INK4B-ARF-INK4A locus in atherosclerosis

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 9p21.3 locus have recently been demonstrated to be strongly associated with atherosclerosis. However, the pathophysiology of this locus is insufficiently studied. Here, the methylation profile of the nearest mapped genes for cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors CDKN2A (p16^INK4a, p14^ARF) and CDKN2B (p15^INK4b) in the tissues of the carotid artery in patients with atherosclerosis was evaluated for the first time. Aberrant DNA methylation of the analyzed loci was not established in either the atherosclerotic plaques or in the tissues from the macroscopically intact vascular wall in the same patients.     

Calcium ion binding by thymocyte plasma membranes

The equilibrium in calcium ions binding to isolated cattle thymocyte plasma membranes within the concentration range 1.10(-5)--5.10(-4) M has been investigated. The plasma membranes has been shown to possess two kinds of Ca(2+)-binding sites with the association constants 2,35.10(5) and 7.64.10(2) M-1 and numbers of binding sites 3.45.10(-4) and 4.55.10(-3) mole.g-1 protein respectively.     

Characterization and localization of myosin in the brush border of intestinal epithelial cells

The brush border of intestinal epithelial cells consists of a tightly packed array of microvilli, each of which contains a core of actin filaments. It has been postulated that microvillar movements are mediated by myosin interactions in the terminal web with the basal ends of these actin cores (Mooseker, M.S. 1976. J. Cell. Biol. 71:417-433). We report here that two predictions of this model are correct: (a) The brush border contains myosin, and (b) myosin is located in the terminal web. Myosin is isolated in 70 percent purity by solubilization of Triton-treated brush borders in 0.6 M KI, and separation of the components by gel filtration. Most of the remaining contaminants can be removed by precipitation of the myosin at low ionic strength. This yield is approximately 1 mg of myosin/30 mg of solubilized brush border protein. The molecule consists of three subunits with molecular weights of 200,000, 19,000, and 17,000 daltons in a 1:1:1 M ratio. At low ionic strength, the myosin forms small, bipolar filaments with dimensions of 300 X 11nm, that are similar to filaments seen previously in the terminal web of isolated brush borders. Like that of other vertebrate, nonmuscle myosins, the ATPase activity of isolated brush border myosin in 0.6 M KCI is highest with EDTA (1 μmol P(i)/mg-min; 37 degrees C), intermediate with Ca++ (0.4 μmol P(i)/mg-min), and low with Mg++ (0.01 μmol P(i)/mg-min). Actin does not stimulate the Mg-ATPase activity of the isolated enzyme. Antibodies against the rod fragment of human platelet myosin cross-react by immunodiffusion with brush border myosin. Staining of isolated mouse or chicken brush borders with rhodamine-antimyosin demonstrates that myosin is localized exclusively in the terminal web.