Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma: Promoting or Protecting Against Atherosclerosis?

BACKGROUND Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory system. However, it may also induce systemic effects. Although reports suggest patients with asthma are at increased risk of cardiovascular events, the association between asthma and atherosclerosis is unclear.

Efficacy and safety of a 12-week therapy with a new formulation of fluticasone propionate at doses of 125 and 250 μg administered through a new generation cyclohaler twice daily, in comparison to fluticasone propionate 500 μg dry powder inhaler twice daily in patients with moderate asthma.

Introduction: Inhaled fluticasone is used in the treatment of chronic bronchial asthma. Its high efficacy and good safety profile have been proven by clinical trials and observations. Its unique pharmacokinetic properties make it distinguishable from other drugs from this group.

Perennial is more effective than preseasonal subcutaneous immunotherapy in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Background: Two different regimens of subcutaneous immunotherapy (IT), perennial or preseasonal, may be used in the treatment of seasonal allergy. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of perennial IT (PIT) and preseasonal IT (PSIT) in patients suffering from seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis.

Methods: The study was planned as a randomized, double-blind, comparative study on the efficacy and safety of PIT and PSIT.

Mediators of inflammation in nasal lavage from aspirin intolerant patients after aspirin challenge.

The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying development of persistent inflammation in aspirin (ASA) intolerance are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine levels of MCP-3, RANTES, eotaxin, Il-5 and Il-3 in aspirin intolerant asthmatics (AIA) after nasal lysine-aspirin (Lys-ASA) challenge. Twenty AIA and 10 aspirin tolerant controls (ATC) were challenged with saline or 14.

[Acoustic rhinometry in the evaluation of intranasal aspirin challenge].

Unlabelled: Nasal lysine aspirin (Lys-ASA) challenge is an alternative to oral and bronchial challenges in the diagnosis of aspirin (ASA) hypersensitivity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the acoustic rhinometry as an objective method of assessment of Lys-ASA nasal challenge.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients with aspirin induced asthma (ASA-S) and 10 controls (ASA-NS group: 5 patients with allergic rhinitis and 5 healthy subjects) were included.

Ranitidine (150 mg daily) inhibits wheal, flare, and itching reactions in skin-prick tests.

H(1)-receptor antagonists are known to suppress reactions in skin-prick tests (SPTs); however, the effect of H(2)-receptor antagonists, which are widely used in our everyday practice, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of ranitidine on wheal, flare, and itching sensation in SPTs. Twenty-one atopic patients (5 women and 16 men) with an average age of 28.

[The effect of desloratadine on use of rescue beta2-agonists and symptoms in patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma].

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and intermittent asthma are frequently comorbid and share some pathophysiological, clinical and epidemiological bases which has been confirmed by ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) WHO position paper. Therapeutical consequences of H1 receptor antagonists treatment in patients with both SAR and asthma are not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of desloratadine (5 mg daily) on rescue medication use, symptoms of SAR and asthma.

[Lack of correlation between exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and clinical indicators of the disease activity and quality of life in mild and moderate asthmatics].

Unlabelled: The measurements of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) are simple and useful method of assessment of inflammation in asthmatics' airways. One of the causes of its limited application in clinical practice is a number of factors influencing the results of measurements. The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of eNO measurements in assessing the inflammation in a heterogeneous, in relation to atopic and smoking status, group of patients.

[Safety of venom immunotherapy in patients pretreated with antihistamines--a retrospective study].

Unlabelled: Immunotherapy is the only effective method of treatment of allergy to Hymenoptera venom. Pretreatment with antihistamines diminishes the incidence of adverse reactions (AR) such as large local and mild systemic reactions but it is suggested that it may mask a development of serious allergic reactions. The aim of the study was a retrospective evaluation of the incidence and nature of AR during venom immunotherapy in patients receiving pretreatment with antihistamines in the Department of Pneumonology and Allergy of the Medical University of Lodz.

The effect of 4 weeks treatment with desloratadine (5mg daily) on levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-18 and TGF beta in patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Anti-inflammatory effect of desloratadine (DL), including, but not limited to depression of production of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8, has been shown in several in vitro experiments but only a few in vivo studies refer to this findings. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of DL on levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-18 and TGF-beta in sera of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Sixty-nine subjects suffering from SAR with hypersensitivity to grass pollen were included into the evaluation of clinical efficacy of DL (5mg once daily).

Adhesion molecules and their ligands in nasal polyps of aspirin-hypersensitive patients.

Background: Chronic inflammation with tissue eosinophilia plays a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma and nasal polyps in patients with aspirin hypersensitivity.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule I (ICAM-1) and their ligands (the integrins lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 and very late-activation antigen 4 [VLA-4]) in nasal polyps of patients with aspirin hypersensitivity compared with aspirin-tolerant individuals.

Methods: Immunohistochemical studies were performed using a peroxidase method and monoclonal antibodies on 6-microm-thick cryostat sections cut from frozen polyps collected during elective surgery from 21 aspirin-sensitive and 23 aspirin-tolerant patients.

[Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with bronchial asthma].

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patient with asthma, its relation to the severity of asthma, BMI (body mass index) and method of treatment. Two hundred eight patients with asthma were included in the study. All patients were carefully studied for asthma severity and surveyed using questionnaire specific for diagnosis of GERD also BMI was determined.

[Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a marker of neutrophil influx into nasal mucosa after recombinant IL-8 challenge].

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been proposed to mirror the degree of neutrophil activation, however its role as a marker of the participation of neutrophils in allergic inflammation is still unclear as the literature is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MPO levels and neutrophil influx in nasal lavage after recombinant Il-8 challenge. Eight patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis, hypersensitive to grass pollens, with average age 30.