ISAAC international study of asthma and allergies in childhood

Abstract

Transfer of solid food from mothers or other adults to dependent offspring is commonly observed in various primate species and both nutritional and informational benefits have been proposed to explain the function of such food sharing. Predictions from these hypotheses are tested using observational data on wild orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) at Tuanan, Central Borneo, Indonesia. In 1,145 hr of focal observation and 458 recorded food interactions between four pairs of females with offspring it was found that virtually all transfers were initiated by the offspring and that younger infants solicited food more often and did so for a greater variety of items than older offspring. All offspring primarily solicited food that was difficult to process, i.e., inaccessible to them. Furthermore, the amount of food solicitation was negatively correlated with ecological competence. Hence food sharing seemed to be related to an offspring's skill level, as suggested by the informational hypothesis. In contrast, offspring did not solicit high‐quality items more than low‐quality items and food sharing did not peak around the age of weaning, as predicted by the nutritional hypothesis. Mothers were usually passively tolerant, allowing offspring to take food but hardly ever provisioned. Parent–offspring conflict concerning food sharing was only observed well after weaning. Thus, by taking food directly from the mother, young orangutans were able to obtain information about the affordances and nutritional value of food items that were otherwise out of their reach and could familiarize themselves with the mother's diet. In species such as orangutans or other apes, characterized by a broad diet that requires extractive foraging, informational food transfer may be vital for an immature to acquire complex feeding skills and adult diet. Am. J. Primatol. 70:533–541, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma: effects on bronchodilation testing

“…6 A close link between allergic rhinitis and asthma has been widely reported. 7,8 Furthermore, allergic rhinitis has been demonstrated to be a strong risk factor for the onset of asthma in adults. 9 From a pathophysiologic point of view, asthma is characterized by airflow obstruction.…”

Reducing indoor air pollution with a randomised intervention design - a presentation of the Stove Intervention Study in the Guatemalan Highlands

“…two or three follow-up assessments). The lung questions are based on standard MRC, IUATLD and ISAAC questions for respiratory diseases (16)(17)(18). The original format of key cough and phlegm questions were, however, not usable, and they were modified through extensive local piloting to versions for which the time patterns of symptoms were understood by the women.…”

“…The ISAAC questionnaire is used for this purpose (18). The mother is asked every six months whether any of her children less than nine years old have had burns or scalds.…”

Freqüência de sintomas associados à asma e doenças alérgicas em adultos jovens, na cidade de Santo André, SP

“…Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é de avaliar a freqüência de sintomas associados à asma e das doenças alérgicas em adultos jovens. 11 . O projeto ISAAC é o mais extensivo estudo internacional sobre asma e doenças alérgicas já realizado.…”