Search

To prevent the damage caused by DNA strand breaks, eukaryotic cells have evolved a series of highly conserved DNA repair mechanisms. The ubiquitously expressed acetyltransferase, Tip60, plays a central role in ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) activation which is involved in DNA repair. Recent work uncovered a new mechanism of ATM activation mediated by Tip60 and demonstrated that histone methylation, specifically, trimethylation of histone H3, is a key factor in the process. Here, we review the current understanding of how Tip60 is activated and how it activates ATM in response to DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess associations between home indoor air environments and asthma, allergies and pneumonia, children aged 1-8 years were surveyed from 12 kindergartens in the city of Xi'an. 2,020 questionnaires were responded with a response rate of 83.5 %. The prevalences of doctor diagnosed asthma, hay fever, and pneumonia were 2.9 %, 3.6 %, and 28.3 %, respectively. Living close to a highway was a risk factor for current rhinitis (AOR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.2-1.8), eczema (AOR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.2-2.5), and diagnosed pneumonia (AOR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0-1.6). Dampness problems in the home were associated with 50 %-130 % increases in the prevalences of asthma and allergy. Airing bed linen under sun-shine was protective, especially against rhinitis. Pet avoidance was consistently and significantly associated with asthma and allergy (AOR 1.3-2.4). Decoration of the home during children's early life is a risk factor for current rhinitis (AOR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.3-2.9) and eczema (AOR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.1-3.6). Risk factors for pneumonia were living in an apartment (AOR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.1-1.8), latex wall paint (AOR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0-1.7), dampness (AOR 1.4-1.5), breast feeding <3 months (AOR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0-1.7), never airing bed linen in sunshine (AOR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.3-1.6), and cleaning children's room less frequently than once per day (AOR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.1-1.7). This study demonstrates that home indoor environmental and life style factors may influence the health of children in Xi'an. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma, rhinitis and eczema (allergic or non-allergic) have increased throughout the world during the last decades, especially among children. Changes in the indoor environment are suspected to be important causes. China has experienced a dramatic change in indoor environmental exposures during the past two decades. However, such changes and their associations with children’s asthma and other health aspects have not been thoroughly studied. China, Children, Homes, Health (CCHH), Phase I, was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 48219 children 1–8 years old in 10 Chinese cities during 2010–2012. The questionnaire includes the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core health questions and additional questions regarding housing, life habits and outdoor environment. In health analyses, children aged 3–6 years old were included. The prevalences of doctor diagnosed asthma varied from 1.7% to 9.8% (mean 6.8%), a large increase from 0.91% in 1999 and 1.50% in 2000. The prevalence of wheeze, rhinitis and atopic eczema (last 12 months) varied from 13.9% to 23.7%, 24.0% to 50.8% and 4.8% to 15.8%, respectively. Taiyuan had the lowest prevalences of all illnesses and Shanghai the highest, except for wheezewhere the highest value was for Urumqi. We found (1) no obvious association between disease prevalences and ambient PM 10 concentrations and (2) higher prevalences of disease in humid climates with hot summers and cold winters, but with no centrally heated buildings. Associations between the diseases and economic status as indexed by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]