Changes in total IgE plasma concentration measured at the third month during anti-IgE treatment predict future exacerbation rates in difficult-to-treat atopic asthma: a pilot study.

Unlabelled: In severe, difficult-to-treat atopic asthma with sensitization to perennial allergens, monoclonal antibodies directed against immunoglobulin E (IgE) are recognized to be clinically effective. Omalizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody, selectively binds to the high-affinity C-epsilon 3 site of human IgE and inhibits the inflammatory cascade in response to antigenic stimuli. Currently, no indicator is available for predicting patients' responsiveness to long-term omalizumab treatment.

Tobramycin Nebulizer Solution in severe COPD patients colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa: effects on bronchial inflammation.

Introduction: Airway colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequent in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may lead to progressive inflammatory damage. Inhaled Tobramycin Nebulizer Solution (TNS; a preservative-free formulation) is an effective therapy in chronic P aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of a TNS short course on inflammatory markers in bronchial secretions from multiresistant P aeruginosa-colonized patients with severe COPD.

Changes in urinary LTE4 and nasal functions following nasal provocation test with ASA in ASA-tolerant and -intolerant asthmatics.

Unlabelled: Aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) is a syndrome characterized by intolerance to aspirin (ASA), nasal polyps and bronchial asthma, the metabolic shift of arachidonic acid towards the lipoxygenase pathway and hyper-production of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) being the current pathogenetic hypothesis. The research for both sensitive indicators and safe diagnostic tests is still attracting. Aim of the study was to measure changes in urinary LTE4 excretion and in nasal function (Resistance-Req, and Volume-Vol, assessed by acoustic rhinomanometry (AR)) following a nasal provocation test (NPT) with ASA:LTE4 measurements have been never previously used to our knowledge for assessing nasal responsiveness to ASA.