Use of transition probabilities to estimate the effect of smoking on the duration of episodes of respiratory symptoms in diary data: the Swiss study on air pollution and lung diseases in adults (SAPALDIA)

Article Abstract:

Diaries of respiratory symptoms can be valuable data collection instruments for air pollution epidemiology. To develop a method of estimating average durations of symptomatic and nonsymptomatic episodes and to cope, respectively, with bias coming from undocumented days and censored episodes that occur with most diary studies, outcome variables in a smoking/respiratory study were based on a model that uses transition probabilities. Transition probabilities were used to estimate the effect of smoking on the duration of episodes of respiratory symptoms in diary data. The Markov method seems to be a feasible approach to assessing long-term effects of various risk factors on duration of respiratory episodes.

Methods, Usage, Longitudinal method, Smoking, Health surveys, Respiration, Epidemiology, Markov processes, Statistics (Mathematics), Longitudinal studies

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Reduced exposure to [PM.sub.10] and attenuated age-related decline in lung function

Article Abstract:

The impact of clean air and reduced exposure to [PM.sub.10] on the lung function in children, as well as adults is discussed. Findings shows that reduction in the exposure to polluted air affects only the lung function that is related to [PM.sub.10].

Science & research, Waste Management and Remediation Services, Particulate Pollutants, Research, Lung diseases, Air pollution, Clinical report

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Use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the evaluation and management of acute dyspnea

Article Abstract:

A randomized controlled study of 452 patients with acute dyspnea was conducted. From dyspnea, B-type peptide levels are found to be relatively higher in patients with congestive heart failure than from other causes.

Product information, Care and treatment, Testing, Congestive heart failure, Shortness of breath, Dyspnea, Natriuretic peptides

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