Infectious Causes of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Gail H. Cassell
Primary Institution: Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Hypothesis
Chronic inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology may be caused by infectious agents.
Conclusion
Infectious agents like Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae may play significant roles in chronic diseases such as asthma and lung disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Ureaplasma urealyticum is the most common microorganism isolated from endotracheal aspirates of infants requiring supplemental oxygen.
- Infants infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum are twice as likely to die as uninfected infants of similar birth weight.
- Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with asthma exacerbations in both children and adults.
Takeaway
Some diseases that make people sick for a long time might actually be caused by germs, and finding these germs could help us treat and prevent these diseases better.
Methodology
The paper discusses various models and available data to illustrate the difficulty in proving causality in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Potential Biases
The research may be subject to biases due to the multifactorial nature of chronic diseases.
Limitations
The study does not provide definitive proof of causality due to the complexity of chronic diseases and potential confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
The study includes infants, particularly those with very low birth weights, and adults with chronic asthma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval 5-22
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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