[The effect of inhaled corticosteroid on the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) with off-line method in adult Japanese asthmatics].

Background: The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a useful marker of asthma control. The FeNO measurement with our offline method using SIEVERS bag collection kit may be more affordable, but there have been no studies to show the effect of anti-asthmatic therapy on FeNO with our offline method.

Methods: The study population comprised 36 steroid-naïve asthmatics at our outpatient clinic.

[The methodological aspects of nasal and exhaled nitric oxide levels in adult Japanese asthmatics].

Background: Because both allergic rhinitis and asthma are caused by eosinophilic airway inflammation, using the same method to measure the eosinophilic inflammation of both the upper and lower airway would be advantageous. The levels of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO) and nasal air (nNO) are useful as noninvasive markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Although the off-line method of measuring these parameters is easier and more useful than the on-line method, studies using the off-line method are rare in Japan.

[Cutoff point of the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) with the off-line method for diagnosing asthma and the effect of smoking on FeNO].

Evidences have shown that the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a useful marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthmatics. There is no study to show the FeNO cutoff point for detecting asthma and the influence of smoking, measured by the Sievers Bag collection kit. The study population comprised 60 steroid-naive asthmatic patients (BA) (32 non-smokers, 28 smokers) and 59 patients with chronic cough (CC) without asthma (42 non-smokers, 17 smokers) in our outpatient clinic.

[The methodological aspects of off-line sampling of exhaled air for nitric oxide measurement in Japanese].

The measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is a non-invasive biomarker of bronchial inflammation. Despite the usefulness of eNO measurement, NO analyzers are too expensive for widespread use by general practitioners. In comparison, the off-line (bag collection) method of eNO measurement may be more useful.

Urinary eicosanoid and tyrosine derivative concentrations in patients with vasculitides.

Background: Vasculitides are classified on the basis of the type of cell involved, namely, eosinophilic vasculitides such as Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) and noneosinophilic vasculitides. However, knowledge on inflammatory mediators and oxidative tissue damage associated with vasculitides is insufficient.

Objective: We measured the urinary concentrations of inflammatory mediators and tyrosine derivatives to assess biomarkers associated with the pathophysiology of vasculitides.

Clinical features of asthmatic patients with increased urinary leukotriene E4 excretion (hyperleukotrienuria): Involvement of chronic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Background: The urinary leukotriene E4 (U-LTE4) concentration is significantly increased in patients with aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA). However, the relationship between the clinicopathogenetic factors of asthma and the U-LTE4 concentration remains undetermined.

Objective: We sought to examine the clinical features of asthmatic patients with increased excretion levels of U-LTE4 (hyperleukotrienuria).