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Breastfed individuals have a lower blood pressure than formula-fed individuals. Supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in adults is also associated with a lower blood pressure. We studied whether children receiving human milk with a relatively high content of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have a lower blood pressure at age 12 years, and, if so, whether this association is explained by the n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids content in erythrocyte membranes at age 12 years. Within a 12-year follow-up of a population-based birth cohort, we compared blood pressure of 205 never-breastfed children and 109 children who had fatty acid composition of their mothers' breast milk measured during lactation. In addition, 973 children had information on erythrocyte fatty acid composition and blood pressure at age 12 years. Children who received human milk with an n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids content above the median (ie, 0.51 weight percentage) had a 4.79-mm Hg lower systolic (95% CI, -7.64 to -1.94) and a 2.47-mm Hg lower diastolic (95% CI, -4.45 to -0.49) blood pressure at age 12 years than never-breastfed children. N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids levels in human milk below the median value and current n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status were not associated with blood pressure at age 12 years. Thus, a relatively high content of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk is associated with a lower blood pressure in children at age 12 years, a finding not explained by current n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adult cholesterol concentrations might be influenced by early-life factors, such as breastfeeding and birth weight, referred to as "early programming". How such early factors exert their influence over the life course is still poorly understood. Evidence from studies in children and adolescents is scarce and conflicting. We investigated the influence of 6 different perinatal risk factors on childhood total and HDL cholesterol concentrations and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio measured at 8 years of age, and additionally we studied the role of the child's current Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: Anthropometric measures and blood plasma samples were collected during a medical examination in 751 8-yearold children participating in the prospective Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort study. Linear and logistic regression were performed to estimate associations of total and HDL cholesterol concentrations with breastfeeding, birth weight, infant weight gain, maternal overweight before pregnancy, gestational diabetes and maternal smoking during pregnancy, taking into account the child's current BMI. Results: Linear regressions showed an association between total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio and maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (&bgr; = 0.15, Confidence Interval 95% (CI): 0.02, 0.28), rapid infant weight gain (&bgr; = 0.13, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.26), and maternal smoking during pregnancy (&bgr; = 0.14, 95%CI: 0.00, 0.29). These associations were partly mediated by the child's BMI. Conclusion: Total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in 8-year-old children was positively associated with maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy and rapid infant weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living close to livestock farms has been associated with increased symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The causes of these effects are still poorly understood. This panel study attempts to assess the acute effects of livestock-related air pollution in patients with COPD living in an area with intensive livestock farming in the Netherlands. Between February 2015 and July 2016, 82 participants took spirometry measurements twice daily (morning and evening) during a 3-month period, resulting in 12,672 FEV 1 and PEF records. Participants also kept a diary on respiratory symptoms as well as livestock-related odor annoyance. Daily average ammonia (NH 3) (a proxy for livestock-related air pollution) and fine particulate matter (PM 10) levels were collected from monitoring stations in the area. Lung function was analyzed as decrements of >10% and >20% from their median as well as absolute values. Self-reported odor annoyance was analyzed as a dichotomous variable. All analyses were done using generalized estimated equations. We adjusted for humidity, temperature, linear trend, and took multiple testing into account. We found an odds ratio of 1.14 95%CI [1.05; 1.25] for decrements >20% in morning FEV 1 per interquartile range (12 µg/m3) increase in NH 3 concentration (lag 2). Odor annoyance was negatively associated with evening PEF (−4.46 l/min 95%CI [−7.59; −1.33]). Sensitivity analyses showed a stronger effect in participants with worse baseline lung function. No associations with symptoms were found. Our results show acute effects of livestock-related air pollution on lung function in COPD patients living in close proximity to livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have investigated the health of children attending schools located near busy roads. In this study, we have measured personal exposure to traffic-related pollutants in children to validate exposure classification based on school location. Personal exposure to PM2. 5, soot, NO x and NO2 was measured during four 48-h periods. The study involved 54 children attending four different schools, two of which were located within 100m of a major road (one ring road and one freeway) and the other two were located at a background location in the city of Utrecht, The Netherlands. Outdoor monitoring was conducted at all school sites, during the personal measurements. A questionnaire was administered on time activity patterns and indoor sources at home. The outdoor concentration of soot was 74% higher at the freeway school compared to its matched background school. Personal exposure to soot was 30% higher. For NO x the outdoor concentration was 52% higher at the freeway school compared to its background school. The personal concentration of NO x was 37% higher for children attending the freeway school. Differences were smaller and insignificant for PM2. 5 and NO2. No elevated personal exposure to air pollutants was found for the children attending the school near the ring road. We conclude that the school''s proximity to a freeway can be used as a valid estimate of exposure in epidemiological studies on the effects of the traffic-relatAbstract:ed air pollutants soot and NO x in children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Mold growth is believed to be one causative factor underlying the association between dampness in buildings and increased respiratory morbidity. Measurements of β(1→3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) are used as markers of mold exposure in field studies. Little is known about their levels and determinants in homes. Objective: To study levels and determinants of β(1→3)-glucan and EPS levels in mattress and living room floor dust in three European countries. Methods: Mattress and living room floor dust was collected in the homes of 1065 German, Dutch, and Swedish (pre-)school children. All samples were analyzed for β(1→3)-glucans and EPS in one central laboratory. Determinants were assessed by questionnaire. Results: Amounts of dust, EPS and β(1→3)-glucan levels differed between countries. Amounts of dust, β(1→3)-glucan and EPS levels for mattresses were only weakly correlated with those for living room floors. Floor dust β(1→3)-glucan loads, EPS loads and EPS concentrations were strongly correlated with the amount of dust sampled, which is largely determined by the type of floor that was sampled (carpeted floors had 5–20 higher amounts of dust). None of the other determinants was consistently and statistically significantly associated with amounts of dust, β(1→3)-glucan and EPS concentrations on floors and mattresses. Conclusion: Mattress dust and floor dust are two different measures of exposure to the investigated mold components. Living room floor β(1→3)-glucan and EPS loads and EPS concentrations are largely determined by the type of floor sampled. Differences between countries can only partly be explained by the determinants studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Cat allergen is a major cause of morbidity among sensitised asthma patients, but little is known about distribution of cat allergen exposure and its determinants in homes. Methods: We measured cat allergen and potential determinants of cat allergen levels in more than 1000 homes. House dust was collected from children''s mattresses and living room floors in approximately 360 homes in The Netherlands, Sweden and Germany and analysed for Fel d 1 in one central laboratory. Exposure was expressed both in concentration (ng/g) and in loads (ng/m2). Results: Levels on mattresses were similar in Sweden and Germany but higher on Dutch mattresses. Dutch floors had higher concentrations than Swedish floors, which had higher concentrations than German floors. The differences in load were less clear. Cat allergen on mattress and floor were moderately to highly correlated. The most important variable quantifying cat allergen variation was the presence of a cat. Floor cover type and last time that floor was vacuumed were important in all three countries. The ratio of cat allergen loads between mattresses from homes with and without cats was higher for Sweden and Germany than for The Netherlands. This is likely related to higher prevalence of cat ownership in The Netherlands which leads to more contamination of homes in which cats were never held. Dust samples from 27–35% of mattresses from homes without cats contained more than 1000 ng/g cat allergen. Conclusion: With the exception of cat ownership and floor cover, questionnaire data on housing characteristics did not accurately predict cat allergen in the home. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]