Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis and Platanus orientalis extracts on asthmatic subjects resistant to routine treatments

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) and Platanus orientalis(P. orientalis) extracts on asthma. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, active-comparator study to evaluate the effect of P. orientalis and R. officinalis extracts on asthmatic patients resistant to routine treatment.The subjects were randomly divided into three groups receiving P. orientalis and R. officinalis extracts alone or in combination. The primary endpoints were clinical findings, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and Asthma Control Test (ACT) assessed over the one-month treatment period. Results: ACT score showed significant improvement after treatment with R. officinalis (

Prevalence of Asthma in Children of Chemical Warfare Victims

Objective: Exposure of DNA to sulfur mustard gas may increase the inheritance of asthma in chemical warfare victims' (CWV) offspring. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma in children of CWV and compare it to asthmatic children in the general population. Methods: Four hundred and nine children from 130 CWV fathers and 440 children from 145 asthmatic parents from two cities in Iran participated in this study. The prevalence of asthma was determined by standard questionnaire released for epidemiological survey of asthma in children and compared between two groups. Findings: The prevalence of asthma in the CWV group was 15%; this was not significantly different from the control group (12.5%). The children of the CWV group reported a significantly greater incidence of wheezing (1.2±3.1 attacks) per year, but the control group reported more severe attacks leading to speech difficulties (3%) and coughing (7%). Regression analysis showed that with increasing family size in the control group, the number of subjects suffering from asthmatic symptoms decreases significantly (r=0.86, P=0.001). Conclusion: Chemical agents may increase the prevalence of asthma in the offspring of CWV

Atypical Radiological Findings in Patients with Hydatid Cysts of the Lung, Study of 1024 Cases

Introduction : The objective of this study was to give a description of the most prominent atypical radiological presentations of lung hydatidosis. Materials and methods: All patients diagnosed with pulmonary hydatidosis by surgical exploration were included in this study. Standard chest roentgenogram and computed tomography CT) were evaluated before surgery for lung cysts or unknown lesions. Radiological findings were divided into two categories: 1- Typical hydatid cysts that were previously presented by imaging as a hydatid cyst in the form of an intact cyst, water lily sign and crescent sign. 2- Atypical hydatid cysts that were not similar to typical previously mentioned hydatid cysts. Results: During a 26-year period, 1024 subjects with pulmonary hydatidosis were diagnosed and operated on. Chest X-rays (interpreted in 832 cases) showed perforated cysts in 190 (23%) and atypical findings such as mass, alveolar type infiltration, abscess and collapse in 113 (13%) patients. Seventy-nine patients had a thoracic CT scan in which atypical cysts were detected in 32 subjects (40.5%) such as: thick wall cavity in 9 patients (28%), solid masses in 7 (21%), abscesses in 6 (18%), consolidation in 3 (9%), fungus balls in 3 (9%), collapse (atelectasis) in 2 (6%) and round pneumonia in 2 (6%). Cavity was significantly more frequent in the right lung (90%) and mass-like opacity was significantly more frequent in the lower lung field (100%). Conclusion: Hydatid cysts should be considered for most of localized radiological pictures of the lung without respect to localization, size and count of lesions

Evaluation of Superiority of FEV1/VC Over FEV1/FVC for Classification of Pulmonary Disorders

Introduction: Forced expiratory value in one score  (FEV1)/ Forced vital capacity (FVC) was used in classical literature for primary classifications of pulmonary disorders. American Thoracic Society/ European Respiratory Society guidelines recommended using FEV1/VC instead of FEV1/FVC.The aim of study was determination of the extent of superiority of FEV1/VC over the FEV1/FVC. Materials and Methods: Two hundred seven subjects whom suffered from different pulmonary disorders were evaluated by standard spirometry, lung volume and Carbon mono-oxide lung diffusion capacity (DLCO). Accuracy of FEV1/VC and FEV1/FVC for diagnosing lung disease was compared by area under the ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity analysis including Kraemer efficiency and likelihood ration methods. Gold standards were diagnosis confirmed by over-all clinical and para-clinical judgment. Results: Primary classification of FEV1/FVC and FEV1/VC according to gold standards showed that FEV1/FVC detected obstructive and restrictive lung disease better than FEV1/VC. FEV1/FVC was able to detect the obstructive and restrictive lung disease correctly in 61% and 34% and FEV1/VC in 56% and 33% respectively. FEV1/FVC showed 100% agreement with forced expiratory flow (FEF)=25-75%,   and Maximum expiratory flow (MEF)=50% but this agreement for FEV1/VC was 95-96%. Accuracy assessments revealed the superiority of FEV/FVC in the likelihood ratio method. Also, based on the ROC curve and Kraemer’s coefficient, more accurate results were obtained by FEV1/FVC, compared to FEV1/VC. Conclusion: FEV1/FVC showed marginally higher accuracy for detecting lung disease than FEV1/VC

Computed Tomography Imaging findings in Chemical Warfare Victims with pulmonary Complications

  Introduction: Data on imaging findings in pulmonary complications of chemical agents is scarce. The current study aimed to evaluate radiological findings of late onset pulmonary complications in chemical warfare victims (CWV) and to guide pulmonologists in diagnosis of these subjects.   Materials and Methods: Ninety- three male CWV were enrolled in this prospective study, 20-25 years (mean=23) after exposure. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. High resolution computed Tomography (HRCT) of the lung was performed during inspiration and expiration and was double reported blindly by two radiologists. Final diagnosis was made according to HRCT findings. The HRCT findings, final diagnosis, and distribution of the abnormalities were compared between subjects whom had been exposed to more complex chemical agents used during the second half of the war and simpler agents during the first half. Results: The most frequent HRCT findings were air trapping (56.7%) and mosaic attenuation (35.1%). The distribution of abnormalities was mostly local (79.4%) and bilateral (73%) especially in lower regions (61.3%). The diagnosed respiratory diseases included bronchiolitis obliterans (43%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (27.9%), asthma (23.6%), bronchiectasis (13.9%) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) (9.6%). Frequency of subjects involved in the second half of the period of war was more than the first period (P-value < 0.05) but the HRCT findings were similar. Conclusions: Bronchiolitis obliterans with picture of focal bilateral air trapping was the most common finding in CWV but asthma appeared to have become a new problem in these subjects

Decreased levels of soluble Toll-like Receptor 2 in patients with asthma

Background: Recently, reports have indicated a role for the membrane form of Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) in asthma pathogenesis. In this study we examined soluble TLR2 levels in serum and sputum of asthmatic and healthy subjects. Methods: Serum and sputum samples were obtained from 33 asthmatic and 19 healthy subjects. The asthmatics were classified into four groups according to the Global Initiative for Asthma. A sandwich ELISA was developed to measure soluble TLR2 (sTLR2) in serum and sputum. TLR2 mRNA expression was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR of all sputum samples. Results: The mean sTLR2 levels from serum and sputum of asthmatics were significantly lower than those from healthy subjects. Moreover, sTLR2 concentration decreased concomitantly with asthma severity. The differences observed, however, were not statistically significant. TLR2/GAPDH mRNA of sputum leukocytes was also significantly lower in asthmatics than in healthy subjects. Conclusion: This study demonstrated for the first time thatsTLR2 levels are lower in serum and sputum samples from asthmatic than from healthy subjects, and this could be an indicator of TLR2 expression. We also found that sTLR2 concentration in serum decreased concomitantly with an increase of asthma severity clinical score

A Viewpoint on the Leaky Gut Syndrome to Treat Allergic Asthma: A Novel Opinion

Asthma is a common respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation, airway hyperreactivity, and reversible airflow obstruction. Despite current treatments, the prevalence of asthma has increased markedly over decades. According to the theories proposed to explain the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases in integrative medicine, leaky gut syndrome is a phenomenon of increased intestinal permeability due to the disruption of tight junctions and is thought to be related to many chronic diseases, such as food intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and other autoimmune disease. One of the classical approaches used by integrative physicians to treat leaky gut syndrome is to repair intestinal permeability to prevent allergic cascade. Due to several mechanisms that have been mentioned in the protective effects of plant gums and plantain family seeds on the intestinal epithelium, we can propose an effective management for leaky gut syndrome to treat asthma