OBJECTIVE An increasing prevalence of asthma has been reported worldwide as well as in Sweden. In 1996, the prevalence of asthma and type 1 allergy was investigated in a cohort of 3525 children 7 and 8 years old in 3 areas of northern Sweden. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of asthma and to identify risk factors for incident cases over 1 year. METHODS The study star...

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the long-term impact of an interactive seminar for physicians based on principles of self-regulation on clinician behaviour, children's use of health services for asthma, and parent's views of physician performance. Seventy-four general practice paediatricians, and 637 of their asthma patients aged 1-12 yrs, were randomized to treatment or control. Child...

BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is a nuclear receptor that modulates inflammation in models of asthma. To determine whether pioglitazone improves measures of asthma control and airway inflammation, we performed a single-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. METHODS Sixty-eight participants with mild asthma were randomiz...

Asthma is a common childhood atopic disease associated with chronicity and impaired quality of life. As there is no cure for this disease, treatment relies on avoidance of triggers such as food and aeroallergens, the use of inhaled bronchodilators/corticosteroids and antiallergic or immunomodulating therapies. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and bronchodilators have been the mainstay. However, i...

OBJECTIVE Use of oral short-acting beta 2-agonist (SABA) persists in non-resource poor countries despite concerns for its lower efficacy and safety. Utilisation and reasons for such use is needed to support the effort to discourage the use of oral SABA in asthma. This study examined the frequency of oral short-acting Beta 2-agonist (SABA) usage in the management of asthma in primary care and de...

BACKGROUND Beliefs play a crucial role in medication adherence. Interestingly, the relationship between beliefs and adherence varies when different adherence measures are used. How adherence, in turn, is related to asthma symptoms is still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between beliefs (ie, necessities and concerns) about inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and subjectively as w...

There is a high prevalence of usage of complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of bronchial asthma which is considered as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Abutilon indicum G. Don. (Fam: Malvaceae) is abundantly found as a weed throughout the tropical parts of India. It is reported to have anti-inflammatory action and is used internally for inflammation of the bl...

OBJECTIVES Increased rates of illicit drug inhalation are thought to expose opiate misusers (OMUs) to an enhanced risk of respiratory health problems. This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of undertaking respiratory screening of OMUs in a community clinic. SETTING Single-centre UK community substance misuse clinic. PARTICIPANTS All clinic attendees receiving treatment for opia...

Scutellariae radix (SR), also known as Huangqin, is the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae). It is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and is one of the most widely used Chinese herbal medicines against bacterial infection of the respiratory and the gastrointestinal tracts. The main components of SR (and of all Scutellaria species) are baicalein, baicalin, and wogonin. Rhin...