We studied ventilation and inspiratory muscle activity during progressive isocapnic hypoxia in adult asthmatic patients to determine whether the decreased hypoxic ventilatory response previously identified is due to the mechanical abnormalities of the respiratory system or to low respiratory center output. The mouth pressure produced by inspiratory muscle activity, a reflection of respiratory c...

Background: The contribution of neutrophils is still indistinct in the inflammatory response of bronchial asthma (BAs). Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an  enzyme released from the primary azurophilic granules of the neutrophils. The study aimed to evaluate the levels of serum MPO as a biomarker for the assessment of the level of asthma control.  Methods: The study participants included 94 asthmat...

background: the most common treatment for asthma is transferring the drug into the lungs by inhaler devices. besides, correct use of inhaled medication is required for effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. thus, it is necessary to train the patients how to use metered dose inhaler (mdi). this study aimed to determine the effect of training about mdi usage with or without spacer on maximum expirator...

The aim of this study was identification of fungi in indoor and outdoor of asthmatic patients home environment. Opened plates (containing of Malt extract agar media) were used for isolation of fungi in the air of indoor (n=360) and outdoor (n=180) of 90 asthmatic patients home living in the city of Sari at the level of breathing height. Plates were incubated in room temperature for 7-14 days. T...

asthma and  gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)  are two  common  problems  in pregnancy and they affect pregnancy in several ways. in this study, we aimed to evaluate gerd and asthma in pregnant women who referred for prenatal care visits. one-hundred  and seventy three  pregnant  women with a complaint of  dyspnea were included in the study. a questionnaire was filled and lung function tes...

The antigenic specificity and pathogenetic significance of immunoglobulins in airway secretion from asthmatic patients have not been established. Elevated levels of B-cells and immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibodies have been reported in sputum of asthmatics and these levels correlated with the eosinophil counts and levels of degranulated cytotoxic proteins from eosinophils. This study aimed to invest...

Nocturnal wheeze and cough are considered to be common features of asthma. Previous studies suggested that nocturnal asthma was related to many factors, including allergen exposure, decreased mucociliary clearance, or circadian rhythm of circulating hormones and nervous tone.1 However, little is known about the influence of sleep on persistent wheeze in asthmatic patients. To study whether asth...

BACKGROUND Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory and remodeling disorder of the airways, in which many cells, cellular elements, and cytokines play important roles. Stem cell factor (SCF) may contribute to the inflammatory changes occurring in asthma. We aimed to show the expression of SCF gene in patients with asthma as a means of diagnosis and its association with severity and atopic sta...

In normal subjects supramaximal flows (SF) are known to be correlated with flow limitation. To further understand the mechanisms involved in SF this correlation and the influence of salbutamol and methacholine administration on SF have been investigated in asthmatic subjects. Protocol A involved obtaining basal maximal expiratory flow/volume curves and interrupted curves through a fast valve fr...

Background: abnormal electrolytes concentrations in asthma patients can be attributed to low intake or secondary to asthma medications. Objectives: to identify the pattern of changes in electrolytes concentrations among asthmatic patients and to detect correlations between concentrations of electrolytes and pulmonary function measurements. Materials and Methods: the study involved a control gro...