The prevalence of allergic asthma and rhinitis in children of Polichni, Thessaloniki.

Aim: To define the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in primary school children in the Polichni Municipality of the city of Thessaloniki.

Methods And Results: The parents of 2005 students living in the area of Polichni completed a questionnaire for the detection of pulmonary disease in childhood. Of 493 children who gave positive answers to the questions about allergies, asthma and rhinitis, 203 were excluded after an interview with the parents, because they suffered from either atopic dermatitis or drug allergy or had normal lgE levels.

Prevalence and risk factors for allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema among schoolchildren in Israel: results from a national study.

Background: There is growing evidence that the prevalence rates of asthma and allergic diseases are increasing, especially among children. Several risk factors are under investigation.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic eczema (AE), among 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren in Israel.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to primary infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in a previously healthy adult.

Community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with a benign clinical course. Severe, life-threatening pneumonia is rare and occurs only in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of severe pneumonia complicated by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to primary infection with C.

Value of a negative aeroallergen skin-prick test result in the diagnosis of asthma in young adults: correlative study with methacholine challenge testing.

Background: None of the existing tests for the diagnosis of asthma are considered to be definitive. Certain circumstances require prompt diagnosis, and a test able to predict the absence of asthma would be very useful.

Objective: To evaluate the contribution of a skin-prick test (SPT) to the diagnostic workup of subjects with suspected asthma.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum levels, weight loss and tissue oxygenation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Weight loss has been recognized as a feature of advanced emphysema and a factor of poor prognosis, but its mechanisms remain obscure. Studies have demonstrated high serum concentrations of TNF-a (cachexin) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with emphysema. Pink puffers (PP) COPD patients have worse tissue oxygenation when compared with blue bloaters (BB) COPD patients.

[Evaluation of asthmatic children presenting at the emergency room at Barzilai Hospital].

Bronchial asthma in the pediatric age group has become prevalent recently. Many children who suffer from asthma arrive at the emergency room (ER) with exacerbations which did not respond to medical treatment at home. Between July and December 1997, 136 children 8 months to 14 years of age (61% below 3 years), were studied in our pediatric ER.

Hering-Breuer reflex in normal adults and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial fibrosis.

Background: It has been suggested that the Hering-Breuer reflex (HBR) is unimportant in adults during normal tidal breathing and that it is elicited only if tidal volume is increased above a certain critical threshold.

Objective: The aim of this study was (1) to study the occurrence of the HBR in adults with normal pulmonary function and (2) to examine if changes in lung mechanics have any effect on the HBR.

Methods: We examined 11 adults with normal pulmonary function, 8 patients with chronic destructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 3 with interstitial fibrosis (IF).

Bronchodilatory responses to formoterol, ipratropium, and their combination in patients with stable COPD.

We studied 27 patients with stable chronic obstuctive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a randomised, single-blind, within-patient, placebo-controlled clinical study. Each patient was assigned on six separate days to receive one of the following drug regimens in random order: A. 40 micrograms ipratropium bromide (Atrovent MDI, 20 micrograms/puff) plus 2 puffs placebo; B.

Sensitization to dust mites in cats with Otodectes cynotis infestation.

Sensitization to the dust mites was demonstrated by an intradermal (ID) skin test in 33 of 55 cats with Otodectes cynotis infestation. Positive ID test reactions to Dermatophagoides farinae were noticed in 32 (58.2%), to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 29 (52.

Indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome: a case study and implications for the community health nurse.

Indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome are only recently gaining recognition as a public health concern. Unfortunately, however, most nurses feel ill equipped to address such environmental health issues. This article begins with a review of literature on indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome, followed by a case study of occupant illness in a school since the onset of a school construction and renovation project.

A comparison of the clinical efficacy and patient acceptability of terbutaline Turbuhaler and salbutamol Rotahaler, in adult patients with asthma.

This open randomized, cross-over study compared the clinical efficacy and patient acceptability of the two bronchodilator delivery systems, terbutaline Turbuhaler (0.5 mg t.i.

Codeine-induced bronchoconstriction and putative bronchial opiate receptors in asthmatic subjects.

To determine whether a mu opiate agonist can constrict the human airways, the dose of codeine (C) or histamine (H) producing a 40% decrease (PD40) in specific airway conductance (SGAW) was measured in 17 asthmatic and 14 normal subjects. Then, the subjects were skin tested with C and H, and the effect of naloxone (N) and chlorpheniramine (CP) on PD40-C was assessed. In five asthmatic subjects responding to less than 5 mg (16.

Comparative efficacy of salbutamol and salmeterol in exercise-induced asthma.

This study compared the protection provided by salbutamol and salmeterol against exercise-induced asthma. Asthmatic patients (n = 12) with exercise-induced asthma were exercised submaximally for 6 min on a treadmill 1, 6 and 12 h after inhalation of 200 micrograms salbutamol or 50 micrograms salmeterol. Each patient also took baseline exercise 1 h after two puffs of placebo.

Five cases of pleural mesothelioma with endemic pleural calcifications in a rural area in Greece.

The authors describe 5 cases of pleural mesothelioma in a rural population of Macedonia, Greece. This population had been covered by an X-ray study over a 3-year period to detect pleural calcifications compatible with asbestos exposure. The study revealed a 24.

Pleural plaques in a rural population in central Macedonia, Greece.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and the causative factor of pleural plaques (PP) in 7 neighbouring villages (Monastiraki, Promachi, Megaplatanos, Orma, Polykarpi, Sarakini and Koryphi) located south-west of Aridea in Macedonia, Greece, where many cases of bilateral pleural calcifications were observed in the past. Full size chest radiographs were obtained from 1086 of the 3901 inhabitants over 5 years of age who agreed to participate in the study. The chest radiographs were scrutinized for PP according to International Labour Office criteria.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm. Achieving control in asthmatic patients.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm is a common complication of asthma. Aggressive treatment of this conditions permits patients to maintain full activity despite their illness. Since most asthmatic patients are healthy except for an intermittent respiratory problem, providing them the opportunity to exercise in all weather conditions affords a clear improvement in their quality of life.

[Pneumothorax in cystic fibrosis: intrapleural instillation of Atabrine].

Intrapleural instillation of quinacrine HC1 (Atabrine) was used to treat spontaneous pneumothorax in 2 young men, aged 26 and 36 years, respectively, with advanced pulmonary disease due to cystic fibrosis. Pneumothorax did not recur until 1 year later in 1 case and 2 years later in the other. This mode of therapy for pneumothorax provides a valuable alternative to surgery for the patient with cystic fibrosis, severe lung disease and marginal pulmonary reserve.

High incidence of cardiopulmonary complications associated with implantation of adrenal medullary tissue into the caudate nucleus in patients with advanced neurologic disease.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to examine the cardiopulmonary complications of a group of patients who had undergone implantation of adrenal medullary tissue into the caudate nucleus for treatment of neurologic disease.

Design: Prospective study with partially matched historical controls.

Setting: Tertiary care community medical center.

Effect of salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and cromolyn sodium on prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced bronchospasm.

We studied the effects of salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and cromolyn sodium on PGF2 alpha-induced bronchospasm in ten patients with asthma. Initially, the bronchial reactivity to IC-PGF2 alpha and the DP20-PGF2 alpha were determined. Recalculations were made two days later and again 1 h after administration of various drugs given on different days.

Prazosin in hypertensive patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma: a brief report.

The effects of prazosin therapy were recently evaluated in ambulatory patients with essential hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Both the ability of prazosin to control high blood pressure and its effects on pulmonary function were observed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced at the end of the maintenance period.

Performance of a demand oxygen saver system during rest, exercise, and sleep in hypoxemic patients.

Demand oxygen systems have been shown to be effective in treating hypoxemia during seated rest and during exercise, but the performance of these systems during sleep has not been previously studied. We compared the efficacy of a new demand oxygen saver system with that of continuous flow nasal oxygen during the usual activities of daily life including sleep, seated rest, and exercise. Six hypoxemic patients were studied.