The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2007
Clinical TrialChildhood Asthma Management Program: lessons learned.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Childhood Asthma Management Program was initiated in 1991 and is now the largest and most comprehensive study of long-term intervention with anti-inflammatory therapy in children with mild to moderate asthma. The purpose of this perspective is to review key findings of the study and lessons learned in conducting research in more than 1000 children with persistent asthma for more than 10 years. A key lesson was absence of a continued effect of inhaled corticosteroid on lung growth during long-term follow-up even as symptoms and airway responsiveness remained improved.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2007
History of serious asthma exacerbations should be included in guidelines of asthma severity.
It is unclear whether asthma severity measured with consensus guidelines is better than a history of a serious asthma exacerbation in predicting current disease activity and future clinical course. ⋯ Adding a history of a serious asthma exacerbation to the consensus guidelines for asthma severity is likely to improve the ability of these clinical tools to predict current disease activity and future clinical course.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyJMF2-1, a lidocaine derivative acting on airways spasm and lung allergic inflammation in rats.
Prior reports show that nebulized lidocaine might be an effective treatment for asthma. ⋯ Nebulized JMF2-1 might be a means of achieving the antiasthmatic effects of lidocaine without the anesthetic effects.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2007
S100A12 provokes mast cell activation: a potential amplification pathway in asthma and innate immunity.
The calcium-binding protein S100A12 might provoke inflammation and monocyte recruitment through the receptor for advanced glycation end products. ⋯ MC activation by S100A12 might exacerbate allergic inflammation and asthma. S100A12 might provide a novel marker for eosinophilic asthma.
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Exacerbations of asthma in children are usually triggered by virus infections. Many different respiratory viruses are associated with these exacerbations, but influenza viruses are frequently associated with those requiring hospitalization and are the only ones for which specific treatment and prophylaxis are available. Current studies have shown that influenza vaccines are safe for patients with asthma. ⋯ A direct comparison of the inactivated and live attenuated influenza vaccines in children with asthma demonstrated superior protection by the latter. Live attenuated influenza vaccine, given by nasal spray, is better accepted by children for annual vaccination and is easier to administer. Universal vaccination of all children in school-based clinics will facilitate control of epidemic influenza and provide an infrastructure for control of future influenza pandemics.