Chest
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OSA has a familial aggregation pattern indicating that it can be partially caused by a genetic component. However, the heritability of OSA has been estimated based on the study of families of obese probands of urban populations with established OSA diagnosis. The objective of this genetic-epidemiologic study is to study families ascertained from a general rural population to determine an unbiased estimate of OSA heritability. ⋯ The heritability of AHI in a rural population with low levels of obesity is intermediate (25%).
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Although ethnicity may influence response to treatment of patients with asthma, this approach is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine if ethnicity influences the response to IM steroid use (eliminating adherence as an issue). ⋯ Black children with asthma were less likely to report an Feno response and had more exacerbations 4 weeks after administration of triamcinolone than white children. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of these differences, but they cannot be due to differences in adherence or access to care.