Exposure to ozone (O3), a toxic component of photochemical smog, results in significant airway inflammation, respiratory discomfort, and pulmonary function impairment. These effects can be reduced via pretreatment with anti-inflammatory agents. Progesterone, a gonadal steroid, is known to reduce general inflammation in the uterine endometrium. However, it is not known whether fluctuations in bl...

Background: Small-particle inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) provide a higher small airway deposition than large-particle ICS. However, we are still not able to identify asthma patients who will profit most from small-particle treatment. Objective: We aimed to identify these patients by selectively challenging the small and large airways. We hypothesized that the airways could be challenged selecti...

The effects of electronic-cigarette use (vaping), marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking (CS), on lung function remain equivocal. Therefore, this study assessed and compared the vaping CS maximum respiratory pressures (MRP), carboxyhaemoglobin levels. Forty-four young healthy participants were recruited: vapers (n = 12), smokers 14), people who had never vaped nor smoked (cont...

Parents of children with cystic fibrosis have been reported to have a high prevalence of increased airway reactivity, but these studies were done in a select young, healthy, symptomless population. In the present study respiratory symptoms were examined in 315 unselected parents of children with cystic fibrosis and 162 parents of children with congenital heart disease (controls). The cardinal s...

To investigate the possible role of mast cell or basophil histamine release in mediating platelet-activating factor (PAF) airway obstruction, we studied the effect of inhaled PAF (30 micrograms, single dose) on plasma histamine, bronchial caliber, and leukocyte and platelet counts in six patients with mild or moderate allergic asthma (mean age, 27 +/- 1.3 years; mean FEV1, 95 +/- 5 percent of p...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the parameters which could predict the persistence of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children who have been treated with a considerably uniform therapy. METHODS A retrospective review was performed on the records of 279 children with asthma. An end of study visit, results of spirometry and prick tests completed the data. The mean age at referral and at final visit was...

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a leading public health problem with increasing incidence and long term complications such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy etc. These complications are mainly a consequence of macrovascular and microvascular damages of the target organs.The presence of an extensive microvascular circulation and abundant connective tissue in the...

BACKGROUND Cross-sectional reports have suggested that, among active smokers, previous exposure to parental smoking may increase susceptibility to development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We assessed prospectively whether parental smoking enhances the effects of active smoking on early deficits of lung function in young adults. METHODS We used data from the prospective birth coho...

OBJECTIVES One of the common causes of morbidity in patients with RA is pulmonary involvement. Some studies have shown that the possible abnormal results of pulmonary function tests in rheumatoid disease are higher than usual. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of spirometric abnormalities in patients with RA. MATERIALS & METHODS This case-control study was conducted on 99 patients with RA w...

BACKGROUND Prenatal and early life periods represent critical windows for oxidant pollutant-induced lung remodeling. The objective of this study was to examine the association of prenatal and lifetime exposures to air pollutants with pulmonary function in a cohort of children with asthma. METHODS Prenatal and lifetime exposure to several air pollutants was reconstructed for 232 children with ...