Predictive value of nonspecific bronchial responsiveness in occupational asthma.

Background: The diagnosis of occupational asthma (OA) can be challenging and needs a stepwise approach. However, the predictive value of the methacholine challenge has never been addressed specifically in this context.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the methacholine challenge in OA.

Screening for occupational asthma by using a self-administered questionnaire in a clinical setting.

Objective: Because of its high prevalence, early screening for occupational asthma (OA) is crucial. We aimed to evaluate the screening performance of the Occupational Asthma Screening Questionnaire-11 items (OASQ-11) in a clinical setting.

Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2011, 169 workers referred for potential OA to our hospital completed the OASQ-11 and underwent workups to determine the final diagnosis.

Identification of clinically significant psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity by examining quality of life in subjects with occupational asthma.

Background: The Juniper Asthma Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)) is a questionnaire that allows measurement of disease specific quality of life. We wanted to examine correlations between the (AQLQ(S)) general and different subscale scores and both psychiatric morbidity and levels of psychological distress in individuals with occupational asthma (OA) and to determine if results in the emotional function subscale allow identification of individuals with clinically significant psychological distress or current psychiatric disorders.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of individuals with OA who were assessed during a re-evaluation for permanent disability, after they were no longer exposed to the sensitizing agent.

Direct costs of occupational asthma due to sensitization in Quebec (1988 to 2002): revisited.

Background: In a previous study, the authors assessed direct costs for occupational asthma (OA) in a random sample of eight to 10 accepted claims per year for OA between 1988 and 2002. Compensation for loss of income (CLI) was found to be significantly higher for men and for OA caused by low-molecular-weight agents.

Objectives And Methods: To identify sociodemographic factors that modulate CLI, the dossier of each claimant in the previous study was re-examined.

Quality-of-life, psychological, and cost outcomes 2 years after diagnosis of occupational asthma.

Objective: To examine the association between clinical and socioeconomic variables and their influence on psychological and cost outcomes in patients with occupational asthma (OA).

Methods: Longitudinal study of 60 subjects who claimed compensation for OA in Quebec. Besides clinical markers of asthma, quality of life (QOL), psychological distress (PD) measures, and an instrument to diagnose mental disorders were used.

Does the methacholine test reproduce symptoms?

Background: The interpretation of methacholine test results do not usually consider the symptoms for which the subject was referred and those that occur during the test.

Objective: To assess the association between methacholine test results and symptoms, and to examine variables that may affect this association. METHODS A total of 400 prospectively chosen subjects who underwent methacholine testing for possible asthma were investigated.

Long-term pathologic consequences of acute irritant-induced asthma.

Background: Acute irritant-induced asthma (IrIa) or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome is caused by exposure to a high concentration of an agent. The long-term pathologic consequences of IrIa remain thus far unknown.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the chronic airway inflammation and remodeling that occur in association with IrIa.

Long-term outcomes of acute irritant-induced asthma.

Rationale: The long-term outcomes of acute irritant-induced asthma (IIA) are mostly unknown.

Objectives: To study the long-term outcomes of IIA.

Methods: We reassessed 35 subjects who experienced IIA at a mean interval of 13.

Direct costs of occupational asthma in Quebec between 1988 and 2002.

Background: Forty to 70 cases of occupational asthma due to sensitization to an agent present in the workplace are accepted each year by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, the Quebec medicolegal agency.

Objectives And Methods: In a random sample of eight to 10 accepted claims per year from 1988 to 2002, the direct costs of compensation for loss of income (CLI) and compensation for functional impairment (CFI), as well as the associations of these costs with selected variables, were assessed.

Results: Mean costs (presented as Canadian dollars x10(3)) of CLI, CFI and total were 72.

Long-term outcomes in a prospective cohort of apprentices exposed to high-molecular-weight agents.

Rationale: We conducted a long-term (8-yr) follow-up of 408 apprentices entering programs involving exposure to high-molecular-weight allergens.

Objectives: The objectives were to assess the frequency of new and persisting sensitization, symptoms, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in relation with job history after ending apprenticeship and to examine characteristics significantly associated with the incidence and remission of these occupational outcomes.

Methods: A respiratory symptom questionnaire, skin prick tests with work-related allergens (laboratory animals, flour, and latex), spirometry, and methacholine challenge were administered.

Does clinical trial subject selection restrict the ability to generalize use and cost of health services to "real life" subjects?

Objectives: To explore one aspect of the external validity of the randomized controlled trial (RCT), specifically how being selected for inclusion in a trial and having participated has influenced the use and cost of asthma-related health services.

Methods: Services used by asthmatic users of inhaled corticosteroids (iCSTs) having previously participated in an RCT (TS, n = 46) were compared with individuals who had never participated (NS, n = 51).

Results: TS were more likely to use higher (> or = 400 microg) daily doses of iCSTs than NS (OR, 3.

Diisocyanate antigen-stimulated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 synthesis has greater test efficiency than specific antibodies for identification of diisocyanate asthma.

We previously reported that diisocyanate-human serum albumin (DIISO-HSA) stimulated production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells is significantly associated with a clinical diagnosis of diisocyanate asthma (DA). Others have reported that antibodies for DIISO-HSA are specific but insensitive markers of DA. This study was performed to evaluate test characteristics of the in vitro MCP-1 assay compared with DIISO-HSA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgE in identifying workers with DA.