Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
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Ann Agric Environ Med · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyRegional importance of Alnus pollen as an aeroallergen: a comparative study of Alnus pollen counts from Worcester (UK) and Poznań (Poland).
Daily average Alnus pollen counts (1996-2005) from Worcester (UK) and Poznan (Poland) were examined with the aim of assessing the regional importance of Alnus pollen as an aeroallergen. The average number of Alnus pollen grains recorded annually at Poznan was more than 2.5 times that of Worcester. Furthermore, daily average Alnus pollen counts exceeded the thresholds of 100, 500 and 1,000 grains/m3 more times at Poznan than Worcester. ⋯ On a scale of 0-6, 20.5% of patients examined for serum asIgE in relation to Alnus pollen allergens had asIgE measurements in classes 5 and 6. Alnus pollen is generally considered to be mildly allergenic. However, the amount of Alnus pollen released into the atmosphere in places such as Poznan may increase its impact on the population and make it one of the more important aeroallergens present.
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Ann Agric Environ Med · Jan 2007
Incidence of Betulaceae pollen and pollinosis in Zagreb, Croatia, 2002-2005.
Pollen allergy is characterized by seasonal allergic manifestations affecting patients during the plant pollen season. The aim of this study was to analyze the Betulaceae pollen pattern in Zagreb (2002-2005) and to determine the incidence of sensitization to these pollen types in patients with seasonal respiratory allergy. Twenty-four-hour pollen counts were carried out using volumetric procedure. ⋯ The patients with monosensitization to birch pollen had the most severe symptoms in April. In the patients with poylsensitization to alder, hazel and birch pollen who developed cross-reaction, initial symptoms occurred as early as February, with abrupt exacerbation in March and April. The most severe condition was observed in the patients allergic to birch, hazel, alder, grass and ragweed pollen, with symptoms present throughout the year and exacerbation in spring and late summer months.
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Ann Agric Environ Med · Jan 2006
Variability of airborne microflora in a hospital ward within a period of one year.
The aim of the study was to determine the seasonal variability of the airborne microflora in a hospital ward of the pneumonological department, with regard to potential impact on respiratory status of asthmatic patients hospitalized in the ward. Microbiological air sampling was carried out for a period of 1 year from June-May, during work-days, 16-21 days per month. Each day, the air samples were collected twice: in the morning at 09:00 and in the afternoon at 13:00. ⋯ The prevailing species was Aspergillus fumigatus which constituted on average 77.0% of total fungal strains isolated from the air of the hospital ward. A significant decrease of spirographic indices (VC, FEV1) in asthmatic patients hospitalized in the ward, at increase of the concentration of airborne bacteria and/or fungi, was found in 9 out of 24 examined patients (37.5%) and in 19 out of 192 analysed single relationships (9.9%). In conclusion, although bacteria and fungi occurred in the air of the examined hospital ward in relatively low numbers (of the order 10(2) cfu/m3 and 10(1) cfu/m3 respectively), they should be considered as a possible cause of asthma exacerbations in some patients because of the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus and other potentially pathogenic species.
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Ann Agric Environ Med · Jan 2005
Low back pain comorbidity among male farmers and rural referents: a population-based study.
Farmers report more low back pain (LBP) than rural referents. We have previously demonstrated that the difference in reporting rate cannot be fully explained by known risk factors such as physical work exposures, psychosocial factors and lifestyle. Other etiological factors must be involved. ⋯ The associations were independent of age, educational level, smoking habits, body mass index, physical work exposures and psychosocial factors. Presence of both respiratory and digestive disorders doubled the LBP prevalence. Significant associations between LBP and digestive and respiratory disorders were revealed, indicating that LBP and these disease entities may have etiological factors in common.
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The quality of dental unit water is of great importance since patients and dental staff are regularly exposed to water from aerosols generated during work. The main purpose of this investigation was mycological evaluation of dental unit waterlines (DUWL). ⋯ Some of them, in certain circumstances, especially in people with immunological disorders, may be a cause of opportunistic infections. Thus, it is necessary that the DUWL should be submitted to a decontamination protocol and to routine microbial monitoring to guarantee an appropriate quality of water used in dental treatment.