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Sputum induction is a tool to monitor airway inflammation, yet it may induce by itself a neutrophilic response when repeated within 24 to 48 h. This limits its repeated use in clinical trials.
The long-term outcomes of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in terms of symptom resolution and health-related quality of life (HRQL) is unknown. Our objective was to determine the rate of symptom resolution using validated patient-based outcome measures, and to assess HRQL 18 months after the episode.
To determine the complication rate from supervised training bronchoscopy in a single pulmonary fellowship program, and to examine the effects of fellow and faculty experience on this complication rate.
European Journal of Internal Medicine Volume 17, Issue 6 , October 2006, Pages 402-407
The issue of hospital at home (HAH) for acute respiratory patients is one that is still being debated, partly because economic, cultural and health service differences between locations imply that HAH schemes need to be tailored to local situations. The aim of the present study was to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of HAH for patients with acute respiratory disease at our institution.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as important pulmonary pathogens. Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex (MAC) causes most lung infections due to NTM. Patients with preexisting lung disease or immunodeficiency are at greatest risk for developing MAC infection.
The goal of this investigation was to determine whether vancomycin pharmacokinetic indexes
(eg, serum trough concentrations or area under the concentration curve
[AUC] values) were associated with mortality for patients with
health-care–associated pneumonia (HCAP) attributed to
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
To compare polysomnographic data and compliance in sleep apnea patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and pressure-relief CPAP (PRCPAP) [C-flex; Respironics; Murrysville, PA] as first treatment in the sleep laboratory and subsequently at home.
Influenza vaccination has been associated with a reduction in the number of hospitalizations for respiratory conditions in elderly persons over the period from 1996 to 2002. Little is known, however, about the effect of influenza vaccination on the whole range of severity of respiratory tract infections.
Allergy & Clinical Immunology International September 2006 , Vol 18 , No. 5
Children with asthma and a chronically raised residual volume (RV) have early anatomical evidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As salbutamol-irreversible flow limitation is the main functional abnormality in COPD, we aimed to test the hypothesis that children with well-controlled asthma and a high RV have significant salbutamol-irreversible limitation in forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity (FEF50) in comparison to controls.
Allergy & Clinical Immunology International September 2006 , Vol 18 , No. 5
Premature newborn infants are vulnerable to develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic respiratory disorder resulting from premature birth in patients requiring oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Although most neonates who develop BPD ultimately achieve normal lung function, they are at significant risk of developing reactive airway disease later in childhood which could predispose to asthma [1].
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 61(4):837-843, October 2006
Numerous studies have suggested that high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) used as rescue therapy may improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of HFOV in surgical patients with ARDS.
Clinical Microbiology & Infection, Volume 12, Number 11, November 2006, pp. 1089-1096(8)
Two recently detected viruses, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63), have been associated with acute respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children. This study investigated the frequency of hMPV and HCoV-NL63 infections in Swedish children by screening 221 nasopharyngeal aspirates, collected between November 2003 and May 2005, from 212 children attending the paediatric department of a county hospital in Sweden or submitted from local general practitioners.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 111, Issue 3 , 28 August 2006, Pages 365-370
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disease characterized by pulmonary and extrapulmonary symptoms. The impaired lung function has long-term implications on metabolism and homeostasis of many organ systems such as the skeleton, heart, brain and skeletal muscle. The occurrence and prevalence of anemia in COPD has rarely been studied.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 582-586
Asthma is a prevalent and complex syndrome with several phenotypic variants. The central features are bronchial inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Many aspects of asthma, such as control of airway hyperresponsiveness, causative factors, and variable responses to treatment, remain poorly understood. This review highlights some of the latest insights into the pathogenesis of asthma that might ultimately bear on the development or choice of treatment modalities.
Clinical Microbiology & Infection, Volume 12, Number 11, November 2006, pp. 1097-1104(8)
For patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), clinical response during the first days of treatment is predictive of clinical outcome. As risk assessments can improve the efficiency of pneumonia management, a prospective cohort study to assess clinical, biochemical and microbiological predictors of early clinical failure was conducted in patients with severe CAP (pneumonia severity index score of >90 or according to the American Thoracic Society definition).
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with restricted physical capacity, limited quality of life, and a poor prognosis because of right heart failure. The present study is the first prospective randomized study to evaluate the effects of exercise and respiratory training in patients with severe symptomatic PH.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 565-568
Clinical asthma management is limited by the lack of straightforward and clinically applicable techniques to assess control and appropriately adjust therapy. The availability of biomarkers associated with airway caliber, responsiveness, or inflammation has prompted interest in the application of these measures as surrogate asthma end points in clinical trials.
There is a large literature on the possible association between obesity and asthma or asthma-like symptoms. However, no previous review has been confined to studies in children and adolescents. Studies vary in definitions of overweight or obesity and in whether outcomes were parent-reported symptoms or doctor-diagnosed asthma; there is no consistency in the findings.
A relevant ventilatory defect occurs after sternotomy, a very common thoracic surgical opening. The mechanism of the ventilatory impairment is unclear. Moreover, until now, the effect of sternotomy on pulmonary gas exchange has scarcely been investigated.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 291: L1059-L1067, 2006
Germ line mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor type II (BMPRII) gene have been found in >50% of familial idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients and in 30% of sporadic cases of IPAH. Mutations of BMPRII occur in the extracellular ligand-binding domain, in the cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase domain, or in the long carboxy terminus domain of unknown function.
Recent data indicate that assisted modes of mechanical ventilation improve pulmonary gas exchange in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) is a new mode of support that amplifies the ventilatory output of the patient effort and improves patient-ventilator synchrony. It is not known whether this mode may be used in patients with ALI/ARDS. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of PAV and pressure-support ventilation on breathing pattern, hemodynamics, and gas exchange in a homogenous group of patients with ALI/ARDS due to sepsis.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 15, Issue 5 , October 2006, Pages 299-306
The developing world is particularly at risk of an increasing health burden due to an increased prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) secondary to increasing tobacco consumption. However, research is scarce. The objectives of this study were to assess the current competence for diagnosing COPD in primary care in a resource-limited setting in Brazil, and to develop a local patient profile for case-finding.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2007;142:51-58
The human chemoattractant receptor expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2), the receptor for prostaglandin D2, induces cell migration in eosinophils, basophils, and Th2 cells. The gene encoding CRTH2 is located on chromosome 11q13. Several groups, including ours, have reported significant associations between this region and various traits associated with allergic diseases such as asthma and atopy.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal
Volume 15, Issue 5 , October 2006, Pages 278-285
To examine how subjects with relief or worsening of asthma symptoms differ in terms of gender, age, severity and duration of asthma, comorbidity, and difficulties with medication and daily life.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 17, Number 7, November 2006, pp. 495-500(6)
Chemokines and their receptors may play an important role for leukocyte trafficking in allergic inflammation. Aim was to evaluate whether expression of chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR8 on cells obtained by sputum induction from asthmatic allergic children may be influenced by house dust mite (HDM) allergen natural exposure.
Surgery Today Volume 36, Number 10 / October, 2006 869-873
Lung cancer resection in patients with respiratory complications is associated with a high surgical risk and the operative indications are usually serious. Consequently, the long-term results are unclear. We aimed to clarify the validity of surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with pneumoconiosis.
Oxygen consumption volume (VO2) and resting energy expenditure are increased in emphysema because of impaired respiratory function and mechanics, with greater oxygen cost of breathing and altered metabolism. We hypothesized that lung volume reduction surgery may improve energy expenditure and metabolism.
Canadian Respiratory Journal September 2006, Volume 13, Number 6 : 306-310
Action plans are recommended for most patients with persistent asthma to reduce the morbidity associated with this chronic disease. Unfortunately, despite these recommendations, this tool remains underused.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 38, Number 10, October 2006, pp. 860-866(7)
There are well established admission criteria for patients suffering from community-acquired pneumonia, yet the clinical tool for decision to discharge the hospitalized patient is lacking. Continuous pressure to reduce hospital expenditures can lead to a premature discharge of unstable patients.
Diseases of the Esophagus, Volume 19, Number 5, October 2006, pp. 394-400(7)
Esophageal functional abnormalities may lead to regurgitation, chronic esophagitis and life-threatening conditions such as aspiration pneumonia. In mixed connective tissue disease patients, previous reports showed that esophageal dysfunction varies according to the method employed for investigation.
APLAR Journal of Rheumatology, Volume 9, Number 3, September 2006, pp. 275-277(3)
We describe a 48-year-old woman with dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia. The pulmonary lesion was refractory; however, several therapeutic regimens such as steriod pulse therapy or gamma globulin and cyclophosphamide, resolved the situation.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 886-893
The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is age-dependent, suggesting an intimate relationship between the pathogenesis of COPD and aging. In this study we investigated whether the senescence of alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells is accelerated in emphysematous lungs.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 875-885
The marked heterogeneity in the host defense mechanisms may be attributed to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the inflammatory chemokines that show enhanced expression in the airway of patients with COPD who experience AEs.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 100, Issue 10 , October 2006, Pages 1688-1705
Patients with asthma have exaggerated bronchoconstriction of their airways in response to certain indirect (e.g. cold air, allergens, dust, exercise) or direct (e.g. inhaled
methacholine) stimuli. This ‘hyper-reactivity’ usually co-exists with airway inflammation, although the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully understood.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 27, Number 5, September-October 2006, pp. 328-331(4)
Asthma is a complex genetic disease that is thought to result from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures. Asthma most often develops within the first few years of life and identified risk factors include familial history of asthma, infantile atopic dermatitis, and skin test reactivity to a subgroup of allergens.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 27, Number 5, September-October 2006, pp. 332-340(9)
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the foundation of pharmacotherapy in persistent asthma because they control airway inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect of ICSs is primarily topical, at their site of deposition in the airways. Consequently, deposition characteristics of the ICS and its formulation and inhalation device, in addition to intrinsic properties of the corticosteroid, influence clinical efficacy.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 27, Number 5, September-October 2006, pp. 341-346(6)
IgE antibodies specific for staphylococcal superantigens (SAg) have been implicated in the pathology of several allergic diseases such as rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, asthma, and aspirin intolerance. We sought to determine whether SAg-specific IgE levels associate with clinical parameters in patients with aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA), as compared with patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) and nonatopic controls.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 853-857
Studying smokers with normal spirometry requires monitoring tools of the peripheral lung. A validated multiple breath washout technique was used to assess possible recovery of smoking-induced small airway malfunction in acinar and conductive lung zones.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 4 October 2006, pp. 1574-1582
The objective of this study was to document pulse oximeter saturation levels achieved in the first 4 weeks of life in infants who were born at <28 weeks' gestation, compared with the levels that were targeted by local policy, and examine factors that are associated with compliance with the target range.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 4 October 2006, pp. e1100-e1108
Sleep-disordered breathing describes a spectrum of upper airway obstruction in sleep from simple primary snoring, estimated to affect 10% of preschool children, to the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea. Emerging evidence has challenged previous assumptions that primary snoring is benign. A recent report identified reduced attention and higher levels of social problems and anxiety/depressive symptoms in snoring children compared with controls.
Pediatric Surgery International Volume 22, Number 10 / October, 2006 775-778
The aim of this work is to prospectively study the value of thoracic ultrasound (US) before pleural drainage in children with parapneumonic effusion (PPE). All children hospitalized for PPE, identified by thoracic radiography, underwent US to assess pleural loculation, echogenicity, and pleural fluid quantity.
Allergy, Volume 61, Number 11, November 2006, pp. 1344-1350(7)
Formaldehyde, an indoor air pollutant, is known to be an irritant and an etiologic factor in occupational asthma. An epidemiologic study suggests that it may also increase the risk of childhood asthma for concentrations above 60 ug/m3.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 15, Issue 5 , October 2006, Pages 271-277
If asthma is not controlled with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), by far the best next step is the addition of a long-acting, inhaled beta-agonist (LABA). Questions regarding the safety of this class of drug have been raised. However, careful examination of the reports which have caused concern in this regard does not reveal any evidence of an increased risk associated with the appropriate use (i.e. in combination with an inhaled ICS) of LABAs in asthma.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2007;142:79-85
Because asthma preferentially burdens persons with atopy, atopy is simplistically considered a primary 'cause' of asthma. Yet at the population level, the percentage of asthma cases 'attributable' to atopy ranges from less than 10% to more than 60%.
Scanty information can be found regarding ppoFEV1% correlation with true FEV1% in the immediate days after surgery, when most cardio-respiratory complications are developed. This prospective multicentric investigation aims to describe the evolution of FEV1 in a series of uneventful lobectomy cases before hospital discharge, and to identify factors associated with the variation of postoperative residual FEV1, with the ratio between the actual and the predicted postoperative FEV1 measured during the first 6 postoperative days.
Bronchopleural fistula is a serious complication of pulmonary resection. For anatomical reasons, lower lobectomy is thought to carry a higher risk for bronchopleural fistula. We investigated the efficacy of bronchial stump reinforcement with a pedicled intercostal muscle flap after lower lobectomy and compared the responses in patients treated with the flap, without the flap, and with other types of flap. We also investigated whether harvesting the intercostal muscle flap leads to an increase in blood loss during surgery and whether the type of flap influences chest-tube volume and pain after surgery.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 543-548
Asthma begins most often in infants as wheezing with respiratory infections. If these episodes are mild and infrequent, asthma does not usually persist into the school years. However, if they are more frequent and severe, the asthma is likely to persist. After infancy, incidence falls and continues at about 100/100,000 for the rest of the lifespan. Allergic asthma develops most often in the second decade of life and frequently persists into adult years, but young patients with allergic asthma often enjoy a transient or even a permanent remission.
Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology. 18(4):256-261, October 2006
Respiratory dysfunctions in patients with craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies may occur due to compression of brainstem affecting the respiratory centers, and weakening of the muscles of respiration. We assessed pulmonary functions [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), maximum mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25%-75%), FEV1%], mouth pressures (maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure), and diaphragmatic movements in 30 patients of CVJ anomalies and compared them with their mean predictive values.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 901-905
The use of biomass as a cooking fuel is commonplace in developing countries and has been associated with chronic bronchitis and obstructive airway disease.
Annals of Internal Medicine 3 October 2006 Volume 145 Issue 7 Pages 497-506
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is caused by exaggerated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction associated with decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide in the lungs and by impaired reabsorption of alveolar fluid.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 894-900
Duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation may be reduced by the use of a systematic approach. We assessed whether a closed-loop knowledge-based algorithm introduced in a ventilator to act as a computer-driven weaning protocol can improve patient outcomes as compared with usual care.
Journal of Infection Volume 53, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 166-174
To determine the population-based incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults and to assess the relative importance of age and gender on the incidence of infections caused by different microbial pathogens.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 15, Issue 5 , October 2006, Pages 286-293
Although it is generally accepted that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underdiagnosed, there is little objective information concerning the size of the problem in the UK.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 15, Issue 5 , October 2006, Pages 307-309
The Parchmore Partnership, London, audited 11 evidence-based criteria relating to patient knowledge and COPD morbidity during December 2004 to March 2005 using questionnaires and practice records. 32 patients with moderate to severe COPD participated, and during the project they received information and extra care. Patient knowledge and clinical indicators showed significant improvements.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 574-581
Limited evidence exists on adherence and effectiveness of combination therapy (inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists in the same inhaler) in asthma.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 649-657
Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells may contribute to airway remodeling through the release of growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The effect of current asthma therapies on this release is not known.
To determine whether clinician prompting regarding a child's symptom severity and guideline recommendations at the time of an office visit improves the delivery of preventive asthma care.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 658-665
A higher exposure to bacterial compounds is purported to explain the lower prevalence of allergy in farm children, but responsiveness to bacterial compounds is modulated by genetic factors.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 36, Number 10, October 2006, pp. 1268-1273(6)
Rhinoviruses (RV), the major trigger of acute asthma exacerbations, are able to infect bronchial epithelium and induce production of pro-inflammatory, but also angiogenic and pro-fibrotic mediators. Fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (S) are clinically effective and act synergistically in controlling persistent asthma; however, their effect on virus-associated asthma is less clear.
Cholinergic antagonists have been used since the early 1900s as bronchodilators for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present study investigated whether an oral muscarinic M3-selective anticholinergic agent (OrM3) would provide an improved therapeutic advantage compared with an inhaled anticholinergic agent in patients with COPD.
Increased arginase I activity is associated with allergic disorders such as asthma. How arginase I contributes to and is regulated by allergic inflammatory processes remains unknown.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 742-748
Although it is widely assumed that childhood sensitization to common aeroallergens is directly related to allergen exposure in early life, few longitudinal studies have investigated this issue, and available data are scarce and mainly limited to high-risk groups
The incidence of asthma has been reported to be associated with obesity. An alternative analysis, of net change in prevalence, does not require exclusion of those with asthma at baseline.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 40, No. 10, pp. 1822-1828
To review available literature evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of cilomilast, a selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor.
The exercise capacity of patients with thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension was investigated to clarify the long-term effects of pulmonary endarterectomy. This capacity was assessed by measuring cardiopulmonary factors during cardiopulmonary exercise testing at the maximal level of exercise and a 6-minute walk test at the submaximal level. Their survival rate was also determined.
Asthma complicates 4–8% of pregnancies. Mild and well-controlled moderate asthma can be associated with excellent maternal and perinatal pregnancy outcomes. Severe and poorly controlled asthma may be associated with increased
prematurity, need for cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, growth restriction, other perinatal complications, as well as maternal morbidity and mortality.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2007;142:70-78
Subcutaneous immunotherapy for respiratory allergy has shown a long lasting efficacy after its discontinuation, whereas evidence in the case of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is weak. This retrospective study evaluates whether SLIT exerts a long-lasting effect and whether it relates to its duration.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2007;142:64-69
The anti-inflammatory actions of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are thought to be due to inhibition of COX-2, whereas the side effects such as gastric damage and aspirin-induced asthma are mediated through inhibition of COX-1.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of anti-fibroblast antibodies in patients with idiopathic or scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and healthy controls.
Thalidomide exhibits diverse actions of anti-inflammation, immunomodulation and anti-angiogenesis. The efficacy of thalidomide treatment in sarcoidosis with lupus pernio is thought to be due to inhibition of tumour necrosis factor (TNF). The mechanisms that underlie the properties of thalidomide are still unclear in interstitial lung disease.
Little is known about causes of death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the validity of mortality statistics in COPD. The present authors examined causes of death using data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study.
Medical Hypotheses Volume 67, Issue 5 , 2006, Pages 1042-1051
Over the last 20 years, the prevalence of asthma has nearly doubled in industrialized countries. A similar increase has been predicted for the next two decades.
In order to assess whether the administration of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination (50/250 mcg by Diskus) for 1 week induces tolerance to the bronchoprotective effect of salmeterol on allergen challenge, a single-blind, cross-over study was carried out.
Addition of inhaled iloprost to bosentan may have beneficial effects in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). A multicentre, open, randomised, controlled trial was performed to assess the safety and efficacy of inhaled iloprost in patients with IPAH who had already been treated with bosentan.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of three score systems: the pneumonia severity index
(PSI); CURB-65 (confusion; urea >7 mM; respiratory rate 30 breaths·min-1; blood pressure <90 mmHg systolic or 60 mmHg diastolic; aged 65 yrs old); and modified American Thoracic Society rule for predicting intensive care unit (ICU) need and mortality due to bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia.
Until recently, assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension has mainly relied on functional and haemodynamic parameters. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), however, has become increasingly important in defining overall health status.
American Heart Journal Volume 152, Issue 4 , October 2006, Pages 692.e1-692.e5
C-reactive protein is a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies demonstrated that in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), levels of this protein elevate dependently on the degree of upper airway obstruction.
The aim of this study was to determine whether combined inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting B2 agonists can suppress eosinophilic inflammation in chronic dostructive plumonary disease (COPD) and to investigate the association between the level of eosinophilia and the degree of bronchodilator reversibility.
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, Volume 12, Supplement 1, July 2006, pp. 11-13(3)
A questionnaire was distributed to asthma patients and relatives of paediatric patients in the Royal Brompton Hospital outpatient clinic in London during March 2003. The aim was to determine how well informed those affected by asthma and allergic diseases were, to find out the best medium for distributing relevant information (e.g. Internet, mobile phones) and to discover the type of information they wished to receive.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 118, Issue 3 , September 2006, Pages 635-640
Use of leukotriene receptor antagonists improves disease control in children and adults with asthma. However, the relationship between cysteinyl leukotriene levels and indices of daily asthma control has not been studied directly.
Medical Hypotheses Volume 67, Issue 5 , 2006, Pages 1136-1141
In the rescue treatment of acute asthma, injected and inhalant magnesium are relatively weak having demonstrated value only in severe illness, although theoretical and laboratory considerations suggest that magnesium should be strongly effective as an asthma rescue agent.
Chronic pulmonary aspiration (CPA) in children is an important cause of recurrent pneumonia, progressive lung injury, respiratory disability and death. It is sporadic, intermittent and variable, and often occurs in children with complicated underlying medical conditions and syndromes that produce symptoms indistinguishable from CPA.
Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is an idiopathic inflammatory disease, well recognised in Japan and principally affecting the respiratory bronchioles, causing a progressive suppurative and severe obstructive respiratory disorder. If left untreated, DPB progresses to bronchiectasis, respiratory failure and death.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of tiotropium on the exercise capacity of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels are increased in children and adults with asthma, whereas low levels have been found in cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia.
European Journal of Pediatrics Volume 165, Number 11 / November, 2006 747-752
Population-based data from Taiwan are used to examine seasonality in pediatric asthma admissions (proxy for asthma exacerbations) and associations with air pollutants and climatic factors.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 27, Number 5, September-October 2006, pp. 388-396(9)
The author shows how the spirometric flow transducer resistance cooperates with the patients respiratory resistance during forced expiration. It depends on the relation existing between values of both resistances.
To facilitate the decision-making process for therapy and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing recent antibiotic exposure, this study investigated whether the development of VAP episodes caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or other pathogens are related to different risk factors, thereby distinguishing two risk population for this serious complication.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 27, Number 5, September-October 2006, pp. 402-411(10)
There are discrepancies in the results of dose-response studies of inhaled steroids. Although some studies show a dose-response relationship, others show no change in outcome with increasing the dose of inhaled steroids.
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