The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 1997
Comparative StudyMeasuring airway inflammation in asthma: eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein in induced sputum compared with peripheral blood.
Airway eosinophilic inflammation is a characteristic feature of asthma. This can be assessed directly by measurement of eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in sputum or indirectly by measurement of the same markers in blood. We investigated the performance of these markers of airway eosinophilic inflammation in a population of patients with asthma compared with control subjects and the extent to which the markers differed. ⋯ We conclude that the proportion of eosinophils in sputum is a more accurate marker of asthmatic airway inflammation than the proportions of blood eosinophils or serum ECP.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Mar 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTime course of changes in adenosine 5'-monophosphate airway responsiveness with inhaled heparin in allergic asthma.
Recent studies have shown that inhaled heparin exerts a protective effect against various bronchoconstrictor stimuli in asthma, possible through an inhibition of mast cell activation. ⋯ Heparin administered by inhalation is effective in attenuating the airway response to AMP but not to methacholine. The time course of change in bronchial reactivity to AMP has a peak effect at 15 minutes and lasts up to 60 minutes. It is possible that the mechanism(s) underlying the protective effects of inhaled heparin in asthma may be related to an inhibitory modulation of mast cell activation.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 1997
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialComparative efficacy of inhaled furosemide and disodium cromoglycate in the treatment of exercise-induced asthma in children.
Inhaled furosemide has been shown, in patients with asthma, to have prophylactic properties similar to those of disodium cromoglycate. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that furosemide and disodium cromoglycate provide comparable efficacy in preventing exercise-induced asthma in children, with no side effects.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 1997
Nasal obstruction as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing. The University of Wisconsin Sleep and Respiratory Research Group.
Nasal obstruction frequently has been associated with sleep-disordered breathing as a potential etiologic factor. Nasal obstruction results in pathologic changes in airflow velocity and resistance. Experimentally produced nasal obstruction increases resistance and leads to sleep-disordered breathing events, including apnea, hypopnea, and snoring. ⋯ Participants who reported nasal congestion due to allergy were 1.8 times more likely to have moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing than were those without nasal congestion due to allergy. Men and women with nasal obstruction, especially chronic nighttime symptoms of rhinitis, are significantly more likely to be habitual snorers, and a proportion also may have frequent episodes of apnea and hypopnea, indicative of severe sleep-disordered breathing. Because allergic rhinitis is a common cause of nasal obstruction and it is a modifiable risk factor, further study of this association is warranted.