Endogenously released cyclooxygenase products modulate the bronchoconstrictor response to various stimuli in asthma. Little is known of the change in airway responsiveness to neurokinin A (NKA) after cyclooxygenase blockade. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have investigated the effect of the potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor, lysine acetylsalicylate (L-ASA) administ...

Advancements in hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI (HP 3He-MRI) have introduced the ability to render and quantify ventilation patterns throughout the anatomic regions of the lung. The goal of this study was to establish how ventilation heterogeneity relates to the dynamic changes in mechanical lung function and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic subjects. In four healthy and nine mild-to-moderat...

Case 1 A 70-year old female came to our clinic complaining uncontrolled asthma for 10 years. Spirometry showed obstructive lesion (FEV1=94.9%, FEV1/FVC =71.08%) with 5% bronchodilator (BD) response. PC20 of methacholine was 3.8 mg/ml. Chest CT showed diffuse bronchial wall thickening with tree in bud sign. Treated with clarithromycin for 1 month, FEV1was improved from 64.9% to 84.2% without ast...

BACKGROUND Cough variant asthma (CVA) is a cause of chronic cough and a precursor of typical asthma. We retrospectively examined the longitudinal change in bronchial responsiveness and cough reflex sensitivity in CVA patients with respect to the effect of long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). METHODS Provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume i...

The effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), 800 micrograms daily, on the long-term course of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were investigated in a prospective, controlled study, over three years. During the first two years, patients were treated with a bronchodilator only (salbutamol or ipratropium bromide). Fifty six patients (28 asthma, 28 COPD), with an...

Background: The clinical outcome of asymptomatic airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) remains unclear. A study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of respiratory symptoms in a cohort of asymptomatic subjects with AHR at baseline. Methods: A 3 year prospective study involving methacholine challenge tests and serially administered questionnaires was undertaken in 769 apprentices exposed to high ...

The complete 83 042-bp nucleotide sequence of the IncP-9 naphthalene degradation plasmid pNAH20 from Pseudomonas fluorescens PC20 exhibits striking similarity in size and sequence to another naphthalene (NAH) plasmid pDTG1. However, the positions of insertion sequence (IS) elements significantly alter both catabolic and backbone functions provided by the two plasmids. In pDTG1, insertion of a p...

tion and hyperresponsiveness to adenosine 5 -monophosphate in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clin Exp Allergy 2000; 30:657–662 8 van den Berg M, Kerstjens HA, Meijer RJ, et al. Corticosteroid-induced improvement in the PC20 of adenosine monophosphate is more closely associated with reduction in airway inflammation than improvement in the PC20 of methacholine. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2...