3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), are effective serum cholesterol-lowering agents which also have anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Adult patients (age 14 to 65 years) with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) diagnosis based on the spirometry with methacholine challe...

Responsiveness to inhaled methacholine was compared before and 40-60 minutes after a challenge with ultrasonically nebulised water (UNH2O) in 16 asthmatic patients. The sensitivity to methacholine increased after UNH2O challenge (p less than 0.001). The mean dose of methacholine producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second was 0.4 (95% confidence limits 0.2, 0.8) mumol, compar...

BACKGROUND Exposure to the bronchoconstricting agent methacholine is a potential hazard to technical staff during methacholine challenge testing, which remains a useful and frequently performed test. There are several methods of performing the test. One of the 2 methods listed in the American Thoracic Society's guidelines is the 2-min tidal-breathing method. The methacholine can be inhaled usin...

Hydroxyapatite is commonly used as a filler to replace amputated bone or as a coating to promote bone ingrowth into prosthetic implants. Many modern implants, such as hip replacements and dental implants, are coated with hydroxyapatite. We report a patient with occupational asthma due to hydroxyapatite, proven by a specific inhalation challenge, who experienced an early asthmatic reaction after...

BACKGROUND The purpose was to assess tolerance to terbutaline after daily use of long-acting beta2- agonist (LABA) and further to evaluate two designs of reversibility test widely used in research and clinic in order to demonstrate tolerance. METHODS Twenty-eight asthmatics were given daily LABA in 12 weeks and were randomized to challenge test and either conventional reversibility test with ...

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is a key feature of asthma and may be measured by direct methacholine challenge or indirect adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge. We performed a retrospective analysis of our database (n = 487) of patients with asthma with the aim first, to compare methacholine and AMP challenge as screening tools, and second, to identify any relationships between BHR and ...

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and methacholine are commonly used to assess airway hyperreactivity. However, it is not fully known whether the site of airway constriction primarily involved during challenges with either agent is similar. Using a ventilation distribution test, we investigated whether the constriction induced by each agent involves the lung periphery in a similar fashion. Venti...

To determine the validity of ultrasonic nebulization of distilled water (UNDW, "fog") in comparison with methacholine challenge, in the assessment of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) asthma, we evaluated 75 subjects exposed to TDI with work-related respiratory symptoms. Subjects were submitted to bronchial challenge with methacholine at first, thereafter to UNDW inhalation and to specific challenge w...