Vocal Cord Dysfunction: A Functional Respiratory Tract Disorder

Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a functional respiratory tract disorder resulting from paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords, complicates the diagnosis and management of common respiratory tract problems, including asthma. The recognition of VCD in a patient with atypical or difficult-to-control asthma is critical in minimizing symptoms and potential side-effects associated with treatment of severe asthma. The symptoms of VCD are not unique to the disorder and include cough, wheeze, stridor, dyspnea, hoarseness, and choking. (more…)

Aspirin-Induced Asthma Treatment with Antileukotrienes

Aspirin Asthma
The prevalence of aspirin-sensitive asthma is uncertain although it may exist in up to 20% of all asthmatics patients. The characteristic features include profound bronchoconstriction asthma following aspirin ingestion, rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, and abdominal cramps. Aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs selectively inhibit COX-1, which in turn shunts arachidonic acid down the 5-lipoxygenase activating protein pathway, causing overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes. As a consequence, elevated levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes can be found in bronchial asthma and nasal aspirates, and in urine following aspirin challenge. (more…)

Montelukast Side Effects as Antileukotrienes Therapy to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma

antileukotrienes therapy
Despite optimum drug delivery and good compliance with inhaled corticosteroids, many patients experience symptoms and exacerbations. Dose–response studies using inhaled corticosteroids have generally been unable to demonstrate any significant difference between individual doses of inhaled corticosteroids. For example, a metaanalysis evaluated eight studies (2324 asthmatics) where the effects of at least two doses of inhaled fluticasone were measured. (more…)

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists & 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors


Two main strategies have been developed to block the effects of cysteinyl leukotrienes in the airway. One method is to use drugs that prevent their synthesis (using a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) and the other involves interfering with the binding of cysteinyl leukotrienes to their cellular receptor using a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA). (more…)

Cysteinyl Leukotriene Biosynthesis

cysteinyl leukotrienes
The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC 4 , LTD 4 and LTE 4 ) are lipid mediators produced from an arachidonic acid precursor following a series of enzymatic steps. Arachidonic acid is firstly released from the phospholipid bilayer by phospholipase A 2 and may be metabolized by either the cyclooxygenase (COX) or 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Once the unstable precursor LTA 4 has been produced, it may be converted in neutrophils or monocytes to the noncysteinyl LTB 4 by LTA 4 hydrolase. In mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and basophils, LTA 4 may alternatively be converted into LTC 4 by LTC 4 synthase and subsequently into LTD 4 and LTE 4. (more…)

Antileukotriene Drugs for Airway Hyperresponsiveness & Asthma Treatment

antileukotriene
A variety of proinflammatory cells, mediators, and cytokines orchestrate the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, which results in the episodic airflow obstruction characteristic of asthma. As a consequence, modulation of the underlying disease process with antii-nflammatory agents is firmly established as being the cornerstone of successful management. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most potent antiinflammatory agents available and satisfactorily suppress underlying airway inflammation in most individuals. (more…)

Microscopic Blood Vessels Dilatation and Increased Permeability

blood vessels
The response to injury usually begins with dilatation of small blood vessels in and around the injured site (figure bellow). This response (called vasodilatation) results from relaxation of smooth muscle in the vascular walls. It can begin within seconds after an acute injury or develop over hours or days of low-grade irritation or infection. Vasodilatation initially results in increased blood flow through arterioles, capillaries, and venules of the affected region, leading to redness (erythema) and warmth. As the vessels dilate, endothelial cells lining some of the vessels actively retract away from one another to create temporary, microscopic gaps in the endothelial lining. Endothelial retraction occurs only in the smallest venules (often called postcapillary venules), which are thin-walled vessels with lumenal diameters of 20 - 60 µm. (more…)

Leukotriene B4 in Exhaled Breath Condensate And Sputum

Leukotriene B4
Some features seem to be common to severe asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with reversibility of airflow limitation. The neutrophil chemoattractant leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4) may play a role in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and in some forms of asthma. In this study, 55 smokers with no disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (with or without bronchodilator reversibility of airflow limitation) or asthma underwent measurement of LTB 4 in sputum supernatants and exhaled breath condensate asthma (EBC). Both Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma patients had higher levels of LTB 4 than control subjects; patients with asthma or reversible Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exhibited significantly higher levels of LTB 4 than those with irreversible Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (more…)

What Is Mold and How It Grow?

mold grow

Mold is a fungus type and different from plants, animals and bacteria. Molds are kind of decomposers of dead organic matter such as leaves, wood and plants. Mold can sometimes infect living plants and animals. Spores and organs such as human hair is the favorite of the mold colonies, but are too small for us to see without a microscope. If a large amount of mold growing on the surface, often appears black or green. The rust color is affected by nutrient source and age of the colony. If mold is growing behind your home wallpaper, colorful pink may appear or purple spots. (more…)

Home Remedies for Hives Relief - Hives & Itch Treatment

hives itch treatment

If you are amongst the groups of people with hives, getting hives relief is very important. Do you still looking the ways to treat hives? Or you are still searching the solution for home remedies for hives relief?

Hives or urticaria is presented in the form of itchy red bumps on the skin that comes in different shapes and sizes. (more…)

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