OBJECTIVE In patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchial hyperreactivity is a common finding that has not been conclusively associated with atopy. The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between chronic colonization or infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bronchial hyperreactivity in a group of patients with cystic fibrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS A nonspecific hi...

BACKGROUND Wheezing occurs in both atopic and non-atopic children. The characteristics of atopic and non-atopic wheeze in children at 10 years of age were assessed and attempts made to identify whether different mechanisms underlie these states. METHODS Children were seen at birth and at 1, 2, 4 and 10 years of age in a whole population birth cohort study (n = 1456; 1373 seen at 10 years). In...

Bronchial responsiveness assessed by histamine bronchial challenge testing in 22 children with chronic stable asthma was compared with the number of inflammatory cells per milliliter of broncholavage fluid obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Hyperresponsiveness was closely correlated with increased counts of eosinophils and macrophages and with the ratio of eosinophils to macrophages. There wa...

Although heparin is used as an anticoagulant, its biologic function has remained unclear since the 1920s. Glycosaminoglycan heparin possesses multiple noncoagulant properties, including anti-inflammatory actions, and it is possible that heparin may inhibit airway hyperreactivity. Thus, the purpose of the present investigation was to study the effect of inhaled heparin on methacholine-induced br...

BACKGROUND Allergic disorders are characterized by a systemic involvement of the immune response. There is a clear link between allergic rhinitis and asthma. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) may be present in rhinitics. Smaller airways may also be impaired in mild asthma. This study aimed at evaluating a group of subjects suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis alone to investigate the presen...

The prevalence of asthma in children is increasing worldwide. Although the features of asthma are well documented, defining asthma remains a problem. The clinical definition of asthma does not take into account the concept of airway inflammation. A broader definition that incorporates the inflammatory process, reversibility of airway obstruction, and airway responsiveness needs to be more widel...

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated in a group of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis alone impairment of spirometric parameters and high percentage of subjects with bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). The present study aimed at evaluating a group of polysensitized subjects suffering from allergic rhinitis alone to investigate the presence of spirometric impairment and BHR during the poll...

BACKGROUND Fractional exhaled nitric oxide is elevated in allergen-provoked asthma. The cellular and molecular source of the elevated fractional exhaled nitric oxide is, however, uncertain. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide is associated with increased airway epithelial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in allergen-provoked asthma. METHODS Fractional exha...

INTRODUCTION There are few studies investigating the association between BCG vaccination and atopy or asthma in adults. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between BCG scar and the occurrence of atopy and asthma in Korean adults. METHODS We carried out a retrospective study of Korean adults who underwent skin prick testing, and, in some cases, spirometry and bronchial provocation test...