VEGF serum concentration and irreversible bronchoconstriction in adult asthmatics.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic, heparin-binding glycoprotein playing an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and disorders, including asthma. It has been reported that increased VEGF serum concentration is a biomarker of neovascularization, which could suggest that higher VEGF expression may be relevant to asthmatics with airway remodeling and irreversible bronchoconstriction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between VEGF serum concentration and irreversible bronchoconstriction in adult patients with a diagnosis of asthma.

The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Poland - the Results of the PMSEAD Study in Relation to Gender Differences.

Background: Males and females exhibit different susceptibility to allergic diseases.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate gender-related differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases in Poland.

Material And Methods: To evaluate this problem, data from the Polish Multicenter Study of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases (PMSEAD) was analyzed.

The G/G genotype of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) single nucleotide (+915G/C) polymorphism coincident with other host and environmental factors is associated with irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthmatics.

Irreversible airflow obstruction may develop in some cases of asthma even in absence of known risk factors such as smoking and environmental insults and despite implementing apparently appropriate therapy. This implies that genetic factors may significantly contribute to determining the severity in the course of the disease. The published reports on genetic predisposition to irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthma, however, are relatively scarce, and disregard its potential association with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene polymorphism despite established role that TGF-beta1 plays in airway remodelling.

Prevalence and risk factors for asthma in Poland: results from the PMSEAD study.

Background: The prevalence of asthma depends on both hereditary and environmental factors. Knowledge of the effects of environmental and congenital factors on the frequency of occurrence of asthma may provide important clues to its pathogenesis and prevention.

Objectives: The Polish Multicentre Study of Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases was designed to obtain estimates representative of the entire Polish population to assess asthma prevalence and risk factors.

Production of leukotriene C4 by peripheral blood leukocytes stimulated with anti-fcepsilonRI antibody, PMA, and fMLP does not correlate with irreversible airway obstruction in asthmatics.

Background: Airway remodeling has recently emerged as a major problem in an increasing percentage of patients with asthma. Reasons for great diversity in the progression of irreversible bronchoconstriction among asthmatics remain unclear.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether the potential ability of leukocytes to produce cysteinyl leukotrienes in response to various stimuli is correlated with magnitude of irreversible airway obstruction in asthmatics.