Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population.In a 5–10 yr follow-up study of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia, a postal questionnaire was sent to previous respondents.A total of 16,191 participants responded to the questionnaire. Reported onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms as well as nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring increased in prevalence along with the increase in body mass index (BMI). After adjusting for nocturnal GOR, habitual snoring and other confounders, obesity (BMI >30) remained significantly related to the onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms. Nocturnal GOR was independently related to the onset of asthma and in addition, both nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring were independently related to onset of wheeze and night-time symptoms.This study adds evidence to an independent relationship between obesity, nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux and habitual snoring and the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Translocation of viable bacteria from gut to bloodstream and other sterile body sites during shock has been demonstrated in several experimental and clinical studies. The factors causing translocation and its incidence at different stages of shock are not known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of several factors causing translocation of indigenous micro¯ora in an experimental model of septic shock based on intraperitoneal Escherichia coli sepsis in rats. Counts of inoculated E. coli and translocated bacteria in different locations, gut morphology and haematological values were evaluated at different stages of sepsis. Sepsis developed in all animals and E. coli achieved the highest counts in blood 6 h after inoculation. Translocation was commonest at 6 and 12 h after inoculation. Frequently translocating bacteria were lactobacilli, bi®dobacteria, bacteroides and peptostreptococci. In early sepsis, translocation was associated with high E. coli counts in blood, yet in late sepsis the opposite correlation was present. Low in®ltration by neutrophils in the ileum and decreased mitotic activity in the colon were associated with a high translocation rate. In early sepsis, translocation was associated with low lymphocyte counts, but in late sepsis, with low neutrophil counts. Translocation of bacteria (including anaerobes) that colonise the gut in high counts takes place during sepsis. Putative in¯uencing factors such as activity of the primary disease (bacterial counts in blood), gut morphology or haematological values seem to have different impacts on translocation, depending on the stage of the disease.

No abstract

No abstract

Cerebral blood flow velocity was assessed by pulsed‐Doppler ultrasonography in 39 asphyxiated and 35 healthy term newborn infants during the first days of life. Asphyxiated infants, investigated at the age of 12 ± 2h, with moderate stage hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) (n= 7) had decreased (15.6 ± 3.9cm/s) and infants with severe stage of HIE (n= 8) increased (26.5 ± 9.6 cm/s) mean cerebral blood flow velocity in medial cerebral artery compared to the control group (20.9 ± 3.7 cm/s). Four out of six infants with severe stage of HIE and mean cerebral blood flow velocity of 3 SD above the mean for normal infants at the age of 12 h died and two developed multicystic encephalopathy during the neonatal period. We conclude that severe post‐hypoxic increase of mean cerebral blood flow velocity at the age of 12 ± 2 h is connected with development of severe stage HIE and poor prognosis.