Potential masking of airway eosinophilic inflammation by combination therapy in asthma.

Purpose: Long-acting β2 agonists (LABA) may mask ongoing bronchial inflammation, leaving asthmatic patients at greater risk of severe complications. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of combination therapy using low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus LABA on airway inflammation in asthma to the effect of medium-dose ICS alone.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with asthma not controlled by low-dose (400 µg per day) budesonide alone were enrolled in this prospective crossover study.

Increased S-nitrosothiol levels in nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis compared with cough variant asthma.

Background: Nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB) and cough variant asthma (CVA) are common causes of chronic cough. Both are characterized by eosinophilic inflammation in the airways. However, airway hyperresponsiveness, which is a characteristic feature of CVA, is not observed in NAEB.

Comparison of the causes and clinical features of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and stevens-johnson syndrome.

Purpose: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are both severe drug reactions. Their pathogenesis and clinical features differ. This study compared the causes and clinical features of SJS and DRESS.

Toxocariasis might be an important cause of atopic myelitis in Korea.

Atopic myelitis is defined as myelitis with atopic diasthesis but the cause is still unknown. Toxocariasis is one of the common causes of hyperIgEaemia that may lead to neurologic manifestations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sero-prevalence of Toxocara specific IgG Ab among the atopic myelitis patients.