On November 21, 2016, thousands of people were struggling for breath in Melbourne, Australia. They overwhelmed ambulance services and hospital emergency departments, formed long lines around pharmacies, and were helped by firefighters and police officers when paramedics became overloaded. The episode resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations and multiple deaths. The cause? Thunderstorm asthma—severe asthma attacks were […]
Diesel exhaust particles are one of the major components of air pollution. These particles are suspended in the air, and are microscopic — less than one-fifth the thickness of a human hair. As we breathe, they are drawn deep into the lungs. Because diesel-powered engines are everywhere, it is almost impossible to avoid them. People […]
The mammalian gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex community of microbes — called the gut microbiome — that is essential for the development of the immune system. Despite its complexity, even the presence or absence of some of the many bacterial species that form this community may lead to a variety of disorders of the immune […]
In Western countries, atopic diseases – eczema, asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis – have been on the rise for decades. However, children raised on traditional farms are protected from childhood atopic diseases – in general, they do not develop sensitization to common allergens, as for example grass and birch pollen. The timing and duration of exposure to the farming […]