The myeloperoxidase product, hypochlorous acid, reduces thrombus formation under flow and attenuates clot retraction and fibrinolysis in human blood.

Hypochlorite (HOCl), a strong oxidant and antimicrobial agent, has been proposed to be associated with hemostatic abnormalities during inflammatory response. However, its complex impact on hemostasis is not completely understood. In this report we studied the effect of clinically relevant (micromolar) HOCl concentrations on thrombus formation under flow, kinetics of platelet-fibrin clot formation, its architecture, retraction, and lysis.

Markers of anaphylaxis - a systematic review.

Anaphylaxis is defined as severe, life-threatening, systemic or general, immediate reaction of hypersensitivity, with repeatable symptoms caused by the dose of stimulus which is well tolerated by healthy persons. The proper diagnosis, immediate treatment and differential diagnosis are crucial for saving patient's life. However, anaphylaxis is relatively frequently misdiagnosed or confused with other clinical entities.

Reduced clot retraction rate and altered platelet energy production in patients with asthma.

Objective: Asthma enhances the risk of pulmonary embolism. The mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear.

Methods: We evaluated the kinetics of clot formation, clot retraction rate (CRR), clot volume at 40 min, the rate of lactate production (a marker of aerobic glycolysis in platelets in contracting clots), blood eosinophil count (EOS), nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FENO), and spirometry (FEV1) in 50 healthy controls and in 81 allergic asthmatics (41 subjects with steroid-naïve asthma and 40 with steroid-treated asthma).

Inflammatory markers and acid-base equilibrium in exhaled breath condensate of stable and unstable asthma patients.

Background: Nitrosative and acid stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether, in asthmatics, a link exists between the concentrations of nitrite/nitrate, ammonia and pH values in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and asthma severity, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide (F(ENO)), total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and blood eosinophilia.

Methods: The above-mentioned parameters were measured in 19 healthy volunteers and 91 allergic asthmatics divided into three groups, i.

Eotaxin-1 in exhaled breath condensate of stable and unstable asthma patients.

Background: Airway eosinophilia is considered a central event in the pathogenesis of asthma. Eotaxin plays a key role in selective eosinophil accumulation in the airways and, subsequently, their activation and degranulation. The study was undertaken to evaluate eotaxin-1 levels in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of asthmatics with different degrees of asthma severity and to establish the possible correlation of these measurements with other recognized parameters of airway inflammation.

RANTES in exhaled breath condensate of patients with severe persistent allergic asthma during omalizumab therapy.

Background: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody developed for the treatment of IgE-mediated diseases, including asthma. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of omalizumab treatment on changes in RANTES in exhaled breath condensate and other inflammatory markers in patients with persistent severe asthma.

Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 19 patients with severe persistent allergic asthma treated with conventional therapy (according to GINA 2006) and with or without omalizumab (9 vs.

Anti-IgE therapy with omalizumab decreases endothelin-1 in exhaled breath condensate of patients with severe persistent allergic asthma.

Background: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, especially useful for the treatment of severe persistent allergic asthma, inadequately controlled despite regular therapy.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of omalizumab treatment on changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1), which plays an important role in the development of airway inflammation and remodeling in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients with severe asthma.

Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 19 patients with severe persistent allergic asthma treated with conventional therapy (according to the Global Initiative for Asthma, 2006) and with or without omalizumab (9 vs.

Changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in serum and exhaled breath condensate after intensive exercise in patients with allergic asthma.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in asthmatics depends on the presence of allergic inflammation. This study was performed to assess the possible association of EIB with low-grade systemic inflammation, whose presence was revealed in asthmatic patients.

Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 24 asthmatics (14 with EIB, 10 without EIB) and 8 healthy volunteers.

[The role of interleukin 13 and interleukin 5 in asthma].

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play roles. Interleukins 5 (IL-5) and 13 (IL-13) are cytokines which play important roles in the pathophysiology of asthma. Selective accumulation and activation of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa is considered a central event in the pathogenesis of asthma.

[Anti-IgE therapy in persistent allergic asthma].

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways. Approximately 40% of asthma cases can be attributed to atopy. An increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) production is the strongest predisposing factor for the development of asthma.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the exhaled breath condensate and serum in stable and unstable asthma.

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease. Measurement of serum high- sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels has suggested the involvement of low-grade systemic inflammation in several disorders, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. In recent years, there have been some reports concerning hs-CRP assessment as a useful tool for detecting systemic inflammation in asthma.