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Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology | annallergy.org
Tiina Reponen, PhD, Stephen Vesper, PhD, Linda Levin, PhD, Elisabet Johansson, PhD, Patrick Ryan, PhD, Jeffery Burkle, MS, Sergey A. Grinshpun, PhD, Shu Zheng, MS, David I. Bernstein, MD, James Lockey, MD, MS, Manuel Villareal, MD, Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD§, Grace LeMasters, PhD
Background
Mold exposures may contribute to the development of asthma, but previous studies have lacked a standardized approach to quantifying exposures.
Objective
To determine whether mold exposures at the ages of 1 and/or 7 years were associated with asthma at the age of 7 years.
Methods
This study followed up a high-risk birth cohort from infancy to 7 years of age. Mold was assessed by a DNA-based analysis for the 36 molds that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) at the ages of 1 and 7 years. At the age of 7 years, children were evaluated for allergic sensitization and asthma based on symptom history, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and airway reversibility. A questionnaire was administered to the parent regarding the child's asthma symptoms and other potential cofactors.
[For the RESULTS and CONCLUSIONS, click on title] |
