Plasma soluble human leukocyte antigen G levels in asthmatic children

Background: Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I gene. HLA-G stimulates Th2 cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The role of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in bronchial asthma is incompletely understood and the plasma level of sHLA-G in asthmatic children has not been investigated. Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate the plasma level of sHLA-G in asthmatic children. Methods: Asthmatic (n = 53) and healthy children (n = 16) were included in the study. Levels of sHLA-G were determined in plasma using ELISA. Spirometry, total immunoglobulin E and eosinophil counts were obtained and skin testing done with a battery of 25 antigens with appropriate positive and negative controls. Results: No significant difference was observed in the plasma level of sHLA-G between the asthmatic and healthy children (p > 0.05). When we compared atopic asthmatics with healthy controls, we found significantly higher levels of sHLA-G in atopic asthmatics (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the peripheral blood eosinophil counts and total immunoglobulin E levels among the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows that plasma sHLA-G levels do not differ between asthmatic children and healthy controls. However, higher plasma levels of sHLA-G in atopic asthmatics may suggest a role for sHLA-G in atopy. Further investigations are required to better define the mechanism of the production and the role of sHLA-G molecules observed in patients with asthma. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Base

Can the Pelargonium sidoides root extract EPs (R) 7630 prevent asthma attacks during viral infections of the upper respiratory tract in children?

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by airway inflammation. Viral infection initiates an immune inflammatory response that may produce asthma attacks. There is no effective preventing therapy for asthma attack during upper respiratory tract viral infections

Zinc status in infantile wheezing

The increase in prevalence of asthma is strongly dependent on environmental factors, including diet. Significant decreases in the intake of dietary zinc may be an important contributing factor to the increasing incidence of wheezing and asthma, but there have been no studies evaluating zinc levels in wheezy infants. Our objective was to investigate the zinc status of wheezy infants. Wheezy infants (n = 34) and healthy children (n = 14) were included in the study Total IgE and eosinophil counts were obtained, and skin testing was done with a battery of 25 antigens with appropriate positive and negative controls. Levels of zinc were determined in hair, using a Polarized Zeeman Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Hitachi Z-800). No significant difference was observed in peripheral blood eosinophil counts and total IgE levels among groups (P> 0.05). Hair zinc levels were significantly lower in wheezy infants (P< 0.001). In conclusion, hair zinc levels were lower in wheezy infants than in healthy controls, suggesting that zinc deficiency may influence the risk of wheezing in early childhood

The role of lipoxin A4 in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma

Background. The pathogenesis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma is incompletely understood, and the role of lipoxin A4 has not been investigated. Objective. To investigate the involvement of lipoxin A4 in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Methods. Two groups of children were enrolled in the study: asthmatic children with positive (n = 12) and negative (n = 8) responses to exercise. Levels of lipoxin A4 were determined in plasma before and immediately after exercise challenge using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. No significant difference was observed in the pre-exercise lipoxin A4 levels among the groups (p 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the postexercise lipoxin A4 levels between the two groups (p = 0.041). We also observed significant decreases in plasma lipoxin A4 levels immediately after exercise challenge both in asthmatic children with positive responses to exercise (p = 0.013) and negative responses to exercise (p = 0.05). But these levels were significantly higher in asthmatic children with negative responses to exercise (p = 0.041). There was an inverse correlation between lipoxin A4 levels and a reduction in forced expiratory volume at one second percent after exercise (p = 0.045, r = -0.465). Conclusion. Our results are the first demonstration of the lower levels of lipoxin A4 associated with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma. We hypothesize that the development of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children may be in relation to a reduced endogenous lipoxin biosynthetic capability. Lipoxin mimetics and related compounds could provide novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma

Exhaled breath condensate annexin A5 levels in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma: A preliminary study

Background and objective: The pathogenesis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in asthma is incompletely understood. The role of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) annexin A5, which is an anti-inflammatory mediator, has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate EBC annexin A5 levels in EIB in asthmatic children

Clarithromycin in the treatment of RSV bronchiolitis: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infancy. To date, there is no effective therapy for RSV bronchiolitis