Sensitisation to Ambrosia in Switzerland: a public health threat on the wait (Publications)
BACKGROUND: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (short name = Ambrosia common ragweed) pollen is a potent allergen and has recently been found in Switzerland, spreading from the southwest of the country. The aim
Occupational exposure and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Publications)
INTRODUCTION: Due to contradictory literature we have performed a systematic review and meta-analyse of population-based studies that have used Job Exposure Matrices to assess occupational exposure an
Gender differences in adult-onset asthma: results from the Swiss SAPALDIA cohort study (Publications)
A higher incidence of asthma is reported in women compared with men, but evidence in later adulthood is limited. We aimed to determine the 20-year cumulative incidence of adult asthma in Switzerland a
Re-estimated equations for 5th percentiles of lung function variables (Letter to editors) (Publications)
In 1996 we published reference equations for the 5th percentiles of lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, FEF25-75, FEV1/FVC) as a function of age and height.1 These reference
Genome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function (Publications)
Pulmonary function measures reflect respiratory health and are used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 seco
Long-term smoking cessation and heart rate dynamics in an aging healthy cohort: is it possible to fully recover? (Publications)
AIM: To evaluate the long-term influence of smoking cessation on the regulation of the autonomic cardiovascular system in an aging general population, using the subpopulation of lifelong non-smokers a
Agreement between spirometers: a challenge in the follow-up of patients and populations? (Publications)
Background: Long-term cohort studies and lung function laboratories are confronted with the need for replacement of spirometers. Lack of agreement between spirometers might affect the longitudinal com
Variability and reproducibility of carotid structural and functional parameters assessed with transcutaneous ultrasound - results from the SAPALDIA... (Publications)
OBJECTIVE: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and local stiffness are vascular biomarkers of atherosclerotic burden. We investigated the variability and reproducibility of clinically relevant struc
A common functional variant on the pro-inflammatory Interleukin-6 gene may modify the association between long-term PM10 exposure and diabetes (Publications)
BACKGROUND: Air pollutants have been linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypothesized to act through inflammatory pathways and may induce interleukin-6 gene (IL6) in the airway epithelium. The cytokine i