The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · May 2008
Review Historical ArticleClinical research: protection of the "vulnerable"?
In this age of evidence-based medicine, clinical research is critical for developing new therapeutics and determining the best way to use these therapies. To perform appropriate clinical research, researchers must adhere to ethical standards. These standards have developed in large part as a response to egregious violations of ethically appropriate behavior. ⋯ Current ethical guidelines prohibit or severely limit what types of research can be performed involving these "vulnerable" populations. Although this might protect these populations, the lack of research on them might actually do harm in limiting their access to life-saving therapies. We explore the historical underpinnings of protecting the vulnerable populations and whether a newer ethical paradigm that would allow for protected research on these populations should be adopted by society.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · May 2008
Expression of smooth muscle and extracellular matrix proteins in relation to airway function in asthma.
Smooth muscle content is increased within the airway wall in patients with asthma and is likely to play a role in airway hyperresponsiveness. However, smooth muscle cells express several contractile and structural proteins, and each of these proteins may influence airway function distinctly. ⋯ Airway hyperresponsiveness, FEV(1)% predicted, and airway responses to deep inspiration are associated with selective expression of airway smooth muscle proteins and components of the extracellular matrix.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Potential role of vasomotor effects of fibrinogen in bradykinin-induced angioedema.
Although bradykinin is known to play a major role in the pathophysiology of hereditary and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)-induced angioedema, other factors acting as triggers or enhancers are likely important as well. ⋯ The increase of plasma fibrinogen levels, its vasodilator activity in human ITAs, and the potentiation of bradykinin-induced vasodilation suggest that fibrinogen might contribute to the pathophysiology of ACEi-induced angioedema. Thus acute-phase proteins, such as fibrinogen, might be viewed as risk factors for bradykinin-induced angioedema.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Prematurity, chorioamnionitis, and the development of recurrent wheezing: a prospective birth cohort study.
Prematurity (< 37 weeks) has been inconsistently associated with asthma and wheezing. Chorioamnionitis may promote both prematurity and inflammatory pathways in infants' airways. ⋯ We found a strong joint effect of prematurity and chorioamnionitis on early childhood wheezing. This effect was stronger in African American subjects.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Comparative StudyCell-specific activation profile of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in asthmatic airways.
Many airway cells manifest signs of chronic activation in asthma. The mechanism of this chronic activation is unknown. ⋯ Significant phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 and their correlation with disease severity suggests that the foregoing signaling pathways play an important role in asthma. The ERK1/2 and p38 pathways regulate epithelial cell secretory function and proliferation.