Effects of montelukast on patients with asthma after experimental inoculation with human rhinovirus 16.

Background: Leukotrienes are induced by viral infections.

Objectives: To determine whether treatment with montelukast would improve asthma disease control in patients with mild allergic asthma during an experimentally induced rhinovirus infection.

Methods: Patients with mild allergic asthma were randomized to receive treatment with either montelukast or placebo, and 7 days later both groups were inoculated with human rhinovirus 16.

Similar colds in subjects with allergic asthma and nonatopic subjects after inoculation with rhinovirus-16.

Background: Rhinovirus infections are frequent causes of asthma exacerbations.

Objective: This study was conducted to test whether subjects with and without allergic asthma have different responses to infection and to identify baseline patient risk factors that predict cold outcomes.

Methods: Twenty subjects with mild persistent allergic asthma and 18 healthy subjects were experimentally inoculated with rhinovirus-16.

Racial differences in clinical presentation of patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

We characterized differences in severity, presentation, and treatment compliance in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) between African Americans (AA) and Caucasians (W). We retrospectively analyzed demographics, proxy measures of socioeconomic position, concurrent illness, presenting complaints, polysomnographic data including respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and time less than 90% O2 saturation (T90), and acceptance of and long-term compliance with CPAP therapy. Over 1 year there were 128 AA, 102 W, and 3 "other.

Comparison of primary-care practitioners and sleep specialists in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

We wished to determine if being treated for sleep apnea by a sleep specialist increased patient awareness or long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance. We performed a retrospective telephone survey and laboratory chart review in patients with a diagnosis of sleep apnea evaluated either at a laboratory in which only sleep specialists can order polysomnography (University Specialty Hospital, noted as USH) or at a laboratory serving the medical community at large (Kernan Hospital, noted as K). Both laboratories are under the same medical director, use the same policies and procedures, equipment, and technician pool.