This report examines the effect of an anti-VLA-4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) HP1/2 on antigen-induced bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine, and on eosinophil and T lymphocyte infiltration in the airways of guinea pigs sensitized and challenged by aerosolized ovalbumin and used 24 h thereafter. The intravenous administration of 2.5 mg/kg of HP1/2, but not of its isotype-matched mAb 1E6, 1 h b...

1. Increased bronchial smooth muscle contractility with consequent bronchial hyperreactivity are characteristic physiopathological events of asthma. Since magnesium intervenes in calcium transport mechanisms and intracellular phosphorylation reactions, it constitutes an important determinant of the contraction/relaxation state of bronchial smooth muscle. In the present study we investigated the...

The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between bronchial hyperreactivity to carbachol and reflex bronchomotor response to the activation of cold receptors in the nose, and also to examine whether any differences exist between asthmatic patients with or without symptoms of rhinitis. The changes in interrupting resistance (Rint) induced by nasal eupnoeic inhalation of cold (-5 degr...

BACKGROUND Screening for asthma in children in the community could have advantages at a time when prevalence rates of the condition and associated hospital admission rates are rising. AIM The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a standard exercise test as a marker of asthma or potential asthma in children, and to examine the relationship between asthma and other respiratory trac...

In order to determine the effect of drugs on bronchial hyperreactivity in subjects with asthma, 12 atopic asthmatic volunteers underwent bronchial challenge with either histamine or methacholine on three separate days. Before the challenges no medication was given on the first day, on the second 400 microgram of aerosol fenoterol and on the third 5 mg of oral fenoterol were administered. The ae...

Reduction of exposure to sensitising agents causing occupational asthma has been proposed as an alternative to total avoidance in order to minimise the adverse socio-economic impact of the condition. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the effects of these two management options on asthma and socio-economic outcomes. A bibliographic search was conducted to identify studies examinin...

The timecourse of recovery from bronchial obstruction due to inhaled cold air was studied in eight adult asthmatic subjects. On the first visit, bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine was assessed. On the other two visits, after assessment of baseline lung resistance (RL) and spirometry, dry cold (-20 degrees C) air was inhaled for three minutes. RL was monitored continuously until its r...