Pernicious Anemia Of Pathophysiology

microorganisms protect farmers' children against asthma and allergies

farmers' children suffer less from asthma and allergies, this much is known. And the reasons seem to "normal citizens" are obvious: the less-sterile environment to protect girls and boys from hypersensitivity. "In fact, it is in asthma and allergies by a combination of genetic and environmental factors," said Dr. Jon Genuneit from the Institute of Epidemiology at the University of Ulm.

Together with the Ulm researchers Dr. Gisela Büchele and Nikolaos Sitaridis Genuneit now has published new findings of the so-called GABRIEL study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Apparently protect Microorganisms from asthma and allergies. GABRIEL The study examines the causes and course of asthma in rural environment.

The history of the survey that begins by research groups in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria and German speaking regions of Austria, Switzerland and is carried out in Poland, about five years ago. Scientists have taken 10 000 farmers' children and girls and boys from the rural reference group, blood samples, in addition the children were measured and weighed. Of the parents completed questionnaires gave information about the activities of girls and boys how to milk cows or manure. With the obtained data, the scientists first confirm that a rural environment protects against asthma and allergies. Contacts such as cattle, hay and straw seem to favor this effect. However, these factors already exist during pregnancy and the farmer's wife in the early childhood phase.

were also taken at the residence of dust samples from the children's rooms. This environmental study is part of the Gabriel in the center of the latest publication. "This way we are looking for an answer to the question of whether explain certain exposures on the farm, ie bacteria and fungi, that farmers' children develop fewer allergies and asthma than their classmates," said Genuneit. The Scientists have shown that farm children are obviously a greater diversity of microorganisms. Now, the question of which micro-organisms a particularly positive influence on the development of the immune system. "Until now we have this evidence, are moving but at the level of groups," said Jon Genuneit. In order to confirm their own results, the researchers also refer to the so-called PARSIFAL study (Prevention of allergy risk factors for sensitization in children related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle), have investigated the scientists with similar research interests dust samples from mattresses.

The next step Epidemiologists want to ask the participants in the study GABRIEL year. Kick-off was last summer. The research questions are the following: How to develop asthma and allergies in puberty? Does the protection of the rural environment? And the influence of smoking on the development of asthma in farmers' children and other rural people?
"For more than 2000 families contacted were willing to continue participating in the survey, gratifyingly high. can arise only way reliable research results that lead us nowhere in the fight against asthma and allergies, "said Genuneit. When the original study, nor GABRIEL-financed with EU funds, Jon Genuneit replaced for the next two years young researchers from the University of Ulm.

Markus J. Ege, MD, Melanie Mayer, Ph.D., Anne-Cécile Normand, Ph.D., Jon Genuneit, MD, William OCM Cookson, MD, D. Phil., Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer, MD, Dick Heederik, Ph.D., Renaud Piarroux, MD, Ph.D., and Erika von Mutius, MD for the GABRIELA Transregio 22 Study Group. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:701-709.

via Information Wissenschaft