title: Mechanistic indicators of childhood asthma (MICA) study: piloting an integrative design for evaluating environmental health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is a common complex disease responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality, particularly in urban minority populations. The Mechanistic Indicators of Childhood Asthma study was designed to pilot an integrative approach in children's health research. The study incorporates exposure metrics, internal dose measures, and clinical indicators to decipher the biological complexity inherent in diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular disease with etiology related to gene-environment interactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  205 non-asthmatic and asthmatic children, (9-12 years of age) from Detroit, Michigan were recruited. The study includes environmental measures (indoor and outdoor air, vacuum dust), biomarkers of exposure (cotinine, metals, total and allergen specific Immunoglobulin E, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic carbon metabolites) and clinical indicators of health outcome (immunological, cardiovascular and respiratory). In addition, blood gene expression and candidate SNP analyses were conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on an integrative design, the MICA study provides an opportunity to evaluate complex relationships between environmental factors, physiological biomarkers, genetic susceptibility and health outcomes. PROJECT APPROVAL: IRB Number 05-EPA-2637: The human subjects' research protocol was reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of North Carolina; the IRB of Westat, Inc., the IRB of the Henry Ford Health System; and EPA's Human Subjects' Research Review Official.
authors: National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA. gallagher.jane@epa.gov
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Gallagher
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Hudgens
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Williams
authors: Jefferson
authors: J
authors: Inmon
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Rhoney
authors: Gina
authors: G
authors: Andrews
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Reif
authors: Brooke
authors: B
authors: Heidenfelder
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Neas
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Williams
authors: Markey
authors: M
authors: Johnson
authors: Haluk
authors: H
authors: Ozkaynak
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Edwards
authors: Elaine Cohen
authors: EC
authors: Hubal
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