A new study shows a three-way interaction between the effects of asthma, active smoking and atopy on airflow obstruction in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in January 1, 2013 concludes that active smoking in patients with clinical asthma significantly contributes to fixed airway obstruction in middle-age, especially among individuals with atopy. Interaction between these factors provides a great incentive to quit smoking.

Previous studies showed an Association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and increased cancer mortality. It was not clear, however, if any association exists between obstructive sleep apnea and increased incidence of cancer. A new multicenter study investigated whether OSA is associated with increased cancer incidence in a large clinical population. The study investigated suspected OSA between 2003 and 2007 in seven Spanish teaching hospitals. A total of 4,910 patients were analyzed and followed up between 3.4 and 5.2 years.

Increased overnight hypoxia was a representative of OSA severity and associated with increased cancer incidence. The researchers found that such association was limited to men and patients younger than 65 years of age.
It seems that OSA may worsen the prognosis of cancer.
The study was published in January 1, 2013 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The December 15, 2012 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine describes a study that demonstrates relationship between traffic air pollution and lung function in children.
Although long-term exposure to air pollution has been related to decline in lung function in children, the timing of its impact has not been elucidated.

The researchers wanted to assess the role of long-term exposure to air pollution on deterioration of lung function in school-age children. For that purpose. They studied more than 1900 Swedish children with repeated questionnaires, dynamic spirometry and IgE measurements until eight years of age. They also measured particulate matter from road traffic and looked at the relationship between time of exposure during different time windows and FEV1 (a measure of lung function).

The results of the study indicated that “exposure to traffic-related air pollution during infancy affects lung function in children up to eight years of age, and particularly those sensitized to common inhalants or food allergens.”

It seems that long-term exposure to ambient air pollution can be associated with reduced lung function in children, although the role of timing of exposure remains unclear. The study shows an association between traffic-related their pollution exposure during infancy and decreased lung function in children up to eight years of age. “Early life exposure to traffic related their pollution may have long-term respiratory consequences.”