Authors: Specjalski K Respiratory infections are one of the major causes of asthma exacerbations. Among numerous pathogens that may lead to exacerbations, particular attention should be paid to atypical bacteria: Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Despite significant frequency, infections caused by these species are underestimated due to untypical clinical course and lack of easily accessible diagnostic tests. Although acute infection can be easily linked with deterioration of asthma control, the role of respiratory colonisation by Chlamydia pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae has not been precisely defined. It is known that serologic signs of both past infection and chronic current infection (IgA) with Chlamydia pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae are found more often in ...MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

CONCLUSIONS: In children below 4 years nasal eosinophilia >or= 8% was predictive for AR development. Allergic march was observed in children with AEDS or/and gastrointestinal allergy symptoms present at the beginning of observation. Nasal eosinophilia in small children might be predictive for the risk of allergic march. PMID: 20665446 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska)

There is very limited information on how the risk of persistent asthma in recurrent wheezing (RW) infants modifies their lung function early in life. The aim of this study is to compare lung function of RW infants and young children with a positive or negative asthma predictive index (API), an index previously used to anticipate asthma persistence into childhood and adolescence.Two groups of RW infants and young children were recruited in two centres in Spain (Palma de Mallorca and Murcia). Lung function was measured according to the thoracho-abdominal compression technique (RCT), and values of the maximal flow at functional residual capacity were expressed as Z-scores. Other variables included in the study, as independent factors, were: gender, age, length, weight, and parental smoking ha...

(Source: AAP News)

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb ephedra—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Ephedra is an evergreen shrub-like plant native to Central Asia and Mongolia. The principal active ingredient, ephedrine, is a compound that can powerfully stimulate the nervous system and heart.What Ephedra Is Used ForEphedra has been used for more than 5,000 years in China and India to treat conditions such as colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, wheezing, and nasal congestion.It has also been an ingredient in many dietary supplements used for weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance. (Source: NCCAM Featured Content)

People with motor neurone disease could live longer and more comfortably if their respiratory problems are identified and managed more effectively. This is what NICE is hoping to achieve from its new clinical guideline on the management of non-invasive mechanical ventilation, out yesterday (28 July). There are around 5,000 people in the UK who have motor neurone disease; a degenerative and incurable condition which causes everyday functions such as breathing, speaking, swallowing, and moving to become increasingly difficult as muscle strength declines... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ADLS), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, announced that the Company has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Fast-Track designation for Restanza™, a novel once-daily oral antibiotic, for the treatment of community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Conclusion : The findings of the present study suggest that CsA can modify the expression of TNF-α and RANTES in drug-induced human gingival overgrowth. (Source: Indian Journal of Pharmacology)

Air pollution and asthma may cause as many as one in 14 suicides in Taiwan, a report has suggested. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

More needs to be done to increase knowledge of asthma management guidelines among healthcare professionals in the UK, results from an online questionnaire suggest. (Source: MedWire News - Respiratory)

Air pollution and asthma may cause as many as one in 14 suicides in Taiwan, a report has suggested. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

(Source: BMJ Online First)

When disease management began, it just entailed a series of programs with a singular focus. Whether you had asthma, coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes or COPD, disease management programs managed only one chronic illness at a time. (Source: Managed Healthcare Executive Magazine Online)

In conclusion, procaterol could inhibit Th2-related chemokines production in human monocytes and bronchial epithelial cells, an effect that may be mediated through not only the NF-[kappa]B, p38, and JNK-MAPK pathways, but also the [beta]2-adrenoceptor-cAMP pathway. Most importantly, the suppressive effect of Th2-related chemokines production by procaterol might be regulated via post-transcriptional modification by decreasing H3K4 trimethylation. Pediatr. Pulmonol. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: Pediatric Pulmonology)

In conclusion while AHR and airway inflammation are clearly associated with an asthmatic status, obesity seems to induce reduction of upper airways flows associated with a certain degree of pro-inflammatory changes. Pediatr. Pulmonol. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: Pediatric Pulmonology)

Conclusion: Taken together, we show that cytokines modulate the expression of functional oxytocin receptors in HASMCs suggesting a potential role for inflammation-induced changes in oxytocin receptor signaling in the regulation of airway hyper-responsiveness in asthma. (Source: Respiratory Research)MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Babies born between 34 weeks and 37 weeks gestation are much more likely to have respiratory illness compared to infants born at full term, and their risk of respiratory illness decreases with each additional week of gestation until 38 weeks, researchers report. The study, published in the July 28 issue of JAMA, was conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago researcher Dr. Judith Hibbard and colleagues from the Consortium on Safe Labor. For neonates born at 34 weeks, the odds of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were increased 40-fold... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

H A Nounou, M M Deif, M Arafah (Source: International Journal of Nanomedicine)

Administration of nitric oxide to preterm infants happens in some high-income countries to reduce rates of poor lung development (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and improve survival in these children. But the EUNO study, published Online First and in an upcoming Lancet, shows that giving nitric oxide to these babies does not improve overall survival or their survival without poor lung development or brain injury. The Article is by Professor Jean-Christophe Mercier, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris and University of Paris, France, and colleagues... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Respiration (DOI:10.1159/000319551) (Source: Respiration)