Comparison between Airway Responses to High versus Low Molecular Weight Compounds in Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma (OA) is a heterogeneous disease, and the characteristics of the sensitizer responsible for OA may induce different clinical, functional, and biological manifestations. We examined the characteristics of 74 patients with OA induced by low molecular weight compounds (LMWC) or by high molecular weight compounds (HMWC) and diagnosed by specific inhalation challenge (SIC). Patients with OA induced by LMWC had a longer occupational exposure before the beginning of symptoms, a lower sputum eosinophilia, and a higher prevalence of late airway response (LAR), in comparison with patients with OA induced by HMWC. Pulmonary function tended to be poorer and atopy tended to be less frequent in LMWC-induced OA than in HMWC-induced OA. These data confirm and extend previous observations showing that the characteristics of the specific sensitizer inducing OA may determine different clinical, functional, and biological features, probably related to the difference pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these different types of OA

Malondialdehyde in Exhaled Breath Condensate as a Marker of Oxidative Stress in Different Pulmonary Diseases

Background. Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection is a noninvasive method to investigate pulmonary oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA). Subjects and Methods. We measured MDA levels in EBC in a large number of patients (N = 194) with respiratory diseases: asthma (N = 64), bronchiectasis (BE, N = 19), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, N = 73), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF, N = 38). Fourteen healthy nonsmoking subjects were included as controls. Results. Excluding IPF subjects, MDA levels were significantly higher in all disease groups than in control group. MDA was significantly higher in COPD than asthmatic and BE subjects. Among asthmatics, corticosteroids-treated subjects had lower MDA levels than untreated subjects. COPD subjects showed an inverse correlation between MDA concentrations and FEV1% (rho:  −0.24, P < .05). Conclusions. EBC-MDA is increased in subjects with chronic airway disorders, particularly in COPD, and it is related to FEV1 reduction

are italian pulmonologists aware of the guidelines for asthma management and do they know how to apply them

Background. Since 1995 GINA (Global Initiative on Asthma) guidelines for asthma management have been updated annually and published in order to promote better management of asthma in real life situations. The aim of our study was to assess the level of implementation of GINA Guidelines among Italian Pulmonary Specialists (PSs). Methods. A detailed questionnaire was sent to 296 Respiratory Units (RUs) in Italy in order to collect information about personnel involved in the management of asthma patients, availability and use of diagnostic tools, recommended treatment according to the degree of asthma severity, educational activity. Data were analysed by using the SPSS programme. Results. 74 (25%) questionnaires were returned and analysed. Most RUs (70%) do not have a dedicated asthma clinic; however, spirometry is available in more than 90% of RUs, although it is performed in no more than 50% of patients in most RUs. Asthma treatment concurs with GINA recommendations in most RUs. Educational activity is performed by almost all RUs, usually in informal manner, during clinical visits, whereas only few RUs arrange individual educational sessions or "asthma school". Conclusions. GINA guidelines for asthma management are applied by most Italian RUs included in this study in regard to educational activity and, to a lesser extent, to treatment. Surprisingly, many RUs perform spirometry in a relatively small number of patients despite its availability

Slow nasal breathing selectively modifies state of consciousness in healthy humans: a psychometric study

Introduction: Neurophysiological studies in animal models and in humans revealed that mechanical stimulation of olfactory epithelium via odourless air synchronizes neuronal rhythms in cortical and subcortical areas. A study from our group found that “passive” ultra-slow mechanical stimulation of olfactory epithelium alters the state of consciousness in healthy subjects by slowing cerebral rhythms in higher-order areas (e.g. Default Mode Network). The aim is to investigate the role of “active” (i.e. guided by top-down attention) slow nasal breathing on consciousness states. Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers, with a mean of 1700 hour of Pranayama practice, performed 15 min of Samavritti Pranayama at 2.5 b/min through the nose. As control condition, the same session was performed breathing only through the mouth. Before and after each session, the state of consciousness was measured through the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale and the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory. Data were analysed with a two-factor (pre/post, nose/mouth) repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Only nasal breathing increased dissociative state (p<0.01) and altered the state of consciousness (p<0.01), with increased introspection (p<0.01) and altered body perception (p<0.05). Conclusions: A breathing-related nasal mechanical stimulation specifically leads to meditative-like, altered state of consciousness

Intracellular detection of interleukin 17 and other cytokines in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: A first assessment

Increasing evidence links pulmonary pathology to cytokines determining an inflammatory environment in the lung. Detection of cells secreting specific cytokines in BALF could be helpful as a diagnostic tool but which cytokines to choose among their great variety may be the first question to solve. The aim of this study was to investigate the Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine profile in whole cells within the human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by flow cytometry, with a focus on interleukin (IL)-17-producing cells, in order to assess which cytokines might lend themselves as markers of disease in future studies. BALF and paired peripheral blood samples were collected from 52 patients admitted to hospital for pulmonary pathologies. Cells obtained from BALF and peripheral blood were incubated in vitro in the absence or presence of appropriate stimuli and analyzed for intracellular content of IL-4, -10, -12, -17, interferon (IFN)gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha in association to expression of either HLA-DR or CD4. IL-17-secreting cells were further characterized. Production of IL-17 by unstimulated BALF cells could be detected in 2 of the 32 patients that could be examined; upon PMA/IM stimulation in vitro, IL-17 was produced by varying percentages of lymphocytes, mostly memory CD4 cells, in all BALF samples. IL-4 could be detected in a relatively high proportion of unstimulated HLA-DR+/-, SSChi cells, most probably granulocytes; IL-10 could be found mostly in macrophages in a number of the BALF samples analyzed. Finally, IFN gamma, and TNF alpha were only produced by lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation. This study shows that T cells producing IL-17 can be found in the lung of respiratory patients in the absence of ex vivo stimulation, making IL-17 a good candidate marker of specific pathologies of the lung. Upon stimulation, IL-17 production was accounted for by CD4(+) CD45RO(+). cells. Other cytokines are also discussed. An interesting cytokine secretion profile found in BALF from a patient with rheumatoid lung disease is also reported. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Determinants of the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: Fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are chronic and progressive lung diseases with different prognosis, with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) having the worst prognosis. Many patients need a surgical lung biopsy for the definite diagnosis of IPF but age and the clinical context often contraindicate this procedure. The aim of this study is to identify predictors of survival, apart from lung biopsy, in patients with definite and possible IPF. PATIENTs AND METHODS: We studied 42 patients with HRCT pattern of definite or possible IPF, by assessing the mortality in relationship with baseline HRCT and functional findings. HRCT was assessed both as prevalent pattern (definite vs possible UIP) and as score of the different abnormalities (in particular, honeycombing (HC) and total fibrotic score). Pulmonary function was assessed as baseline FVC, TLC and DLCO values, as well as change over 6 months of follow-up. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in order to detect predictors of mortality. RESULTS: During follow-up, 10 out of 42 patients died. Mortality rate was not different according to the qualitative pattern of fibrosis at HRCT. Among the different HRCT scores, a cut-off of 15% in the HC score differentiated patients with higher mortality rate. A lower baseline FVC, and a greater decrease in pulmonary function after 6 months, were both associated with higher mortality. In a logistic analysis taking in consideration clinical, radiological and functional findings, only baseline FVC and FVC change after 6 months resulted significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Functional evaluation at the baseline and during follow-up is more relevant than HC score for the prognosis of patients with definite and possible IPF