Search

Background: Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease which sometimes predisposes to allergies. Environmental factors (low humidity, irritants, etc.) are prominent causative triggers of AD. Objectives: This study aims to explore the effects of both meteorological factors and air pollutants on childhood AD, and the modification effects by season in Shanghai, China. Methods: Quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model, combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to examine the nonlinear and lagged effects of environmental factors on childhood AD from 2009 to 2017 in Shanghai. We also performed a season-stratified analysis to determine the modification effects of environmental exposure by season on childhood AD. Results: There were 1,043,240 outpatient visits for childhood AD in total, at 3 major pediatric hospitals. Low temperature and relative humidity (RH), and high daily temperature difference (DTD) and air pollutants (i.e., NO2) increased the relative risks (RRs) of outpatient visits for childhood AD in the whole year. In the cold season, an increased risk of outpatient visits for childhood AD was associated with low RH (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.69–3.02) and high NO2 (1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.17). In the warm season, outpatient visits for childhood AD were associated with low temperature (3.49, 95% CI 3.22–3.77), low RH (1.89, 95% CI 1.74–2.06), high DTD (1.41, 95% CI 1.31–1.53), and high NO2 (1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06). Conclusions: This study suggests that environmental exposure may be a key trigger for outpatient visits for childhood AD with apparent seasonal effects. Tailored preventive strategies to avoid environmental triggers of childhood AD should be developed.

Background: Childhood asthma and allergic diseases are a significant global problem. There are inconsistent findings on the associations of delivery mode, the number of children in the household and breastfeeding with childhood asthma and allergic diseases. We assessed these associations and examined whether breastfeeding modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 17 primary schools were randomly selected from 13 districts of Shanghai in this study. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to assess the childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between neonatal and familial factors and childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and to examine the modification effects of breastfeeding on the associations assessed. Results: Of 10,464 primary school children aged 6–11 years, the overall prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, food allergy and drug allergy was 13.9, 22.7, 15.3, 8.1 and 4.6%, respectively. Male sex, high socioeconomic status, cesarean section delivery, only one child in the household and having family history of allergy were associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of childhood asthma and allergic diseases while longer breastfeeding duration (> 6 months) was inversely associated with these diseases. Longer breastfeeding duration also attenuated the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. For instance, the adjusted OR of childhood asthma in the group of vaginal delivery and breastfeeding duration > 6 months was lowest (0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.92). Conclusions: Longer breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and also reduced the OR of neonatal and fami

Background Previous studies have postulated that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may be associated with the occurrence and exacerbation of asthma. However, there was limited quantitative evidence on the topic. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and predisposing factors of asthma, and quantifying the association between SDB and asthma among school-aged children in China. In addition, a comprehensive meta-analysis of the published evidences and our findings were further conducted. Methods To test the hypothesis, we conducted a multicentric cross-sectional study involving 22,478 children aged 5–12 years recruited from eight cities in China. Furthermore, a meta-analysis based on both previously published studies and our cross-sectional study was performed. Results The prevalence rate of SDB and asthma was 12.0% and 3.5% among our cross-sectional study sample. It was demonstrated that symptoms of SDB, such as habitual snoring (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.01-1.62), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.34-2.76), were significantly associated with asthma, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. In the meta-analysis, SDB was correlated with the prevalence of asthma in both children (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.35-1.80) and adults (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.42-1.67). Conclusions Our results provide further evidence for the independent association between SDB and asthma. The clinical significance of our findings lies in the emphasis that children undergoing examination or treatment for asthma should be routinely screened for sleep problems. Further systematic study is required to illuminate the underlying mechanism.

The China Jintan Child Cohort study began in 2004 with 1656 pre-school participants and a research focus on studying the impact of environmental exposures, such as lead, on children’s neurobehavioural outcomes. This population cohort now includes around 1000 of the original participants, who have been assessed three times over a period of 10 years. Since the original IJE cohort profile publication in 2010, participants have experienced a critical developmental transition from pre-school to school age and then adolescence. The study has also witnessed an increase in breadth and depth of data collection from the original aim of risk assessment. This cohort has added new directions to investigate the mechanisms and protective factors for the relationship between early health factors and child physical and mental health outcomes, with an emphasis on neurobehavioural consequences. The study now encompasses 11 domains, composed of repeated measures of the original variables and new domains of biomarkers, sleep, psychophysiology, neurocognition, personality, peer relationship, mindfulness and family dynamics. Depth of evaluation has increased from parent/teacher report to self/peer report and intergenerational family report. Consequently, the cohort has additional directions to include: (i) classmates of the original cohort participants for peer relationship assessment; and (ii) parental and grandparental measures to assess personality and dynamics within families. We welcome interest in our study and ask investigators to contact the corresponding author for additional information on data acquisition., Funding Agencies:National Institute of EnvironmentalHealth Sciences R01-ES018858 K01-ES015877 K02-ES019878 P30-ES01350University of Pennsylvania Center of Excellence in Environmental ToxicologyWacker FoundationJintanCity GovernmentJintan Hospital