Community-acquired pneumonia in southeast Asia: the microbial differences between ambulatory and hospitalized patients.

Study Objectives: To determine microbial agents causing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Southeast Asia.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Three general hospitals in Thailand.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in asthma: effect of asthma severity, allergen challenge, and inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: Asthma is associated with remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and increased airway obstruction, and the mechanisms of this process are unknown. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of enzymes capable of degrading the ECM. They are released along with their inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP).

Clinical, laboratory findings and microbiologic characterization of bronchiectasis in Thai patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical features, underlying disease states, laboratory findings and microbiological characterization of bronchiectasis in Thai patients.

Methodology: For a 2-year period all consecutive patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis at Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, were recruited. Data including history, physical examination, underlying disease and laboratory studies were carefully reviewed and recorded.

Low-dose theophylline reduces eosinophilic inflammation but not exhaled nitric oxide in mild asthma.

Theophylline is well-established in the management of asthma, and there is some evidence of an antiinflammatory effect in asthma. It is not known whether theophylline affects inflammatory markers such as sputum eosinophils and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) in patients with mild asthma not receiving inhaled steroid therapy. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of 15 patients with mild asthma, we assessed the effect of low-dose theophylline therapy (250 mg twice per day) on eosinophils in induced sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and airway biopsies at the end of both the treatment and placebo periods.

Comparison of high dose inhaled steroids, low dose inhaled steroids plus low dose theophylline, and low dose inhaled steroids alone in chronic asthma in general practice.

Background: Theophylline is widely used in the treatment of asthma, and there is evidence that theophylline has anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory effects. A study was undertaken to determine whether theophylline added to low dose inhaled steroids would be as efficacious as high dose inhaled steroids in asthma.

Methods: In a study in general practice of 155 recruited asthmatic patients with continuing symptomatic asthma while on 400 microgram beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) daily and inhaled beta(2) agonist as required, the effect of (1) continuing low dose inhaled steroids alone (LDS, 200 microgram BDP twice daily), (2) low dose inhaled steroids plus low dose theophylline (LDT, 400 mg daily), or (3) high dose inhaled steroids (HDS, 500 microgram BDP) over a six month period was examined.