Karen E Birmingham

Allergen Levels in Airborne and Surface Dust

House dust mite Der p I Der p II Aero-allergen sampling Correspondence to: Dr. F. Carswell, Institute of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Bristol BS2 8BJ (UK) Introduction The house dust mite Dermatophagoidespteronyssinus is widely present in the home. It has been implicated in the provocation of asthma attacks in atopic subjects. The faecal pellets produced by the mite contain one of the major mite allergens Derp I. These faecal particles may be inhaled by the patient, and environmental sampling should indicate the quantity. Although sampling of surfaces within the home gives results related to the presence of allergen in the air, no study has established the nature of the relationship between surface and air mite allergen. Material and Methods Air samples were collected from the bedrooms of 62 asthmatic children. Dust was collected from the mattress, duvet and carpet using a Hoover dustette vacuum cleaner for 2 min within a 0.25m2 template and from pillows for 30 s within a 0.06-m2 template [1]. A Casella air sampler was clipped to the pillow 12 in from the sleeping child’s head. It was switched on before the child went to bed and switched off after rising, each night for a 2-week period, to produce a cumulative sample. Forty-five air samples were collected and the results were expressed as nanograms per cubic metre of air. Petri dishes (8.5 cm diameter) were pretreated with 2% teleostean gelatine; one was exposed at floor level and one at about pillow height for 2 weeks [2]. Sixty-one data sets were collected. Data are presented as nanograms per day. Dust specimens were extracted with PBS/Tween/BSA. Derp I, Derp II and Feldl were measured using a two-site monoclonal antibody ELISA assay [3]. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and other non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Forty percent of air samplers collected Derp I, 5% collected Derp II. In contrast 85% of the Petri dishes collected Derp I and 76% Derp II. The median allergen measurements are presented in

Ethics and governance of a longitudinal birth cohort

All longitudinal birth cohorts should be undertaken with a detailed ethical strategy and policy on governance. Here we outline the various factors that should be taken into consideration and describe ways in which these issues may be addressed.

Enrolment and response rates in a longitudinal birth cohort

For the scientific credibility of study results, longitudinal cohort studies need to invest time, money and creative thought in establishing and maintaining the maximum number of study participants. Although success depends to a large extent on the resources available, much can be achieved by establishing a culture of integrity and enthusiasm among study staff that is conveyed to participants at all times. In this paper we outline various strategies that can be included in order to maximise the response rates.

Grand-maternal smoking in pregnancy and grandchild’s autistic traits and diagnosed autism

Although there is considerable research into the genetic background of autism spectrum disorders, environmental factors are likely to contribute to the variation in prevalence over time. Rodent experiments indicate that environmental exposures can have effects on subsequent generations, and human studies indicate that parental prenatal exposures may play a part in developmental variation. Here we use the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to test the hypothesis that if the mother or father (F1) had been exposed to their own mother’s (F0) smoking during pregnancy, the offspring (F2) would be at increased risk of autism. We find an association between maternal grandmother smoking in pregnancy and grand daughters having adverse scores in Social Communication and Repetitive Behaviour measures that are independently predictive of diagnosed autism. In line with this, we show an association with actual diagnosis of autism in her grandchildren. Paternal grandmothers smoking in pregnancy showed no associations.

Preterm birth rates in Avon County, England, and urban Ukraine.

OBJECTIVE We compared rates of total and spontaneous preterm birth in Avon County, England and urban Ukraine to explore whether adverse conditions in the former eastern bloc influenced the preterm rate. STUDY DESIGN Women who had last menstrual period (LMP) in a specified time window were recruited from geographically defined areas. Data were gathered between 1992 and 1995, using maternal questionnaires and medical record abstraction, with comparable methods in both sites insofar as possible. There were 13731 births in Avon and 3087 in Ukraine. Rates of total and spontaneous preterm births were compared, taking account of maternal characteristics and other relevant variables. RESULTS The total preterm birth rates were similar (5.9%, Ukraine; 5.5%, Avon) but the spontaneous preterm rate was about 60% higher in Ukraine (5.0% versus 3.1%). Maternal characteristics and measurement differences did not explain the discrepancy. CONCLUSION The difference in the spontaneous preterm rates may reflect differences in obstetrical management resulting from shortages of medical supplies and equipment in Ukraine.

Foundation of the International Federation of Human Genetics Societies: The Catalyst

The International Federation of Human Genetic Societies was founded in 1996 by a group of American and European geneticists, who had become increasingly dissatisfied with the International Congress of Human Genetics, the only worldwide forum for geneticists at that time. The Congress, founded in 1956, was run by a self-styled “Permanent Committee”, regarded by many as dysfunctional. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, two of the Permanent Committee co-authored a highly controversial set of guidelines on ethics and service provision, which Professor Marcus Pembrey used to catalyse the rapid instigation of the International Federation. This aspect of the Federation’s foundation was unlikely to have come to light had it not been revealed during a brief interview with Professor Pembrey.