[Inhaled corticosteroids in asthma: which have the best tolerance?].

Asthmatic syndrome, better definition of asthma, is an inflammatory chronic disease, probably the most frequent in pediatrics. An important characteristic of asthma is the bronchial inflammation with a complex network of cells and inflammatory mediators of pivotal importance in the pathogenesis. The long term control and treatment of this disease are cardinal points of the management of asthmatic syndrome.

Lack of tolerance to the protective effect of montelukast in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children.

The effect over time of regular treatment with montelukast (MNT) in inhibiting exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) has never been evaluated in children. The aim of the present study was to examine the preventive effect of MNT against EIB in children at different time-points over a 4-week treatment period. Thirty-two asthmatic children (aged 6-12 yrs) were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomised, parallel group design to receive a 4-week treatment with MNT (5 mg chewable tablets administered once daily in the evening) or placebo.

Foreign body aspiration in children.

Background: The aim was to investigate the role of physical and radiological findings before bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records for 82 patients (mean age 26.4 +/- 21.

Long-term outcome of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in children.

We retrospectively analyzed the long-term outcome of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) in 15 children. IPH started at a mean age of 5 years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 17.2 years (range, 10-36 yr).

Expression of B7 co-stimulatory molecules and CD1a antigen by alveolar macrophages in allergic bronchial asthma.

Background: Lung allergen recognition that takes place in the airways of asthmatic subjects is still a controversial matter.

Objective: We hypothesized that a rapid allergen recognition process requires the presence, at the mucosal surface, of professional APC, such as B7+ alveolar macrophages (AM) and/or CD1+ dendritic cells, which usually have a lower expression in the normal human lung.

Methods: Studies were performed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from 10 untreated allergic subjects and 10 adult normal volunteers.