Cromolyn, Nedocromil, Theophylline: Asthma Medications

asthma medications
Cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium are inhaled agents that are alternatives to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the management of mild persistent asthma in children. Both drugs have been shown to possess anti inflammatory properties through nonsteroidal mechanisms, although the exact mechanisms for their actions remain unclear. (more…)

Treg Cells In Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy

treg cells
Treg cells or regulatory T cells constitute a large population of cellular infiltrate in atopic/allergic inflammation and a dysregulated immune response appears to be an important pathogenetic factor. Cardinal events during allergic inflammation can be classified as activation, organ-selective homing, survival and reactivation, and effector functions of immune system cells. T cells are activated by aeroallergens, food antigens, autoantigens, and bacterial exotoxins superantigens in allergic inflammation. They are under the influence of the skin, lung, or nose-related chemokine network and show organ-selective homing. (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…)

Susceptibility Locus For Asthma-Related Traits

Susceptibility Locus Asthma
Genome-wide scans have pointed to a number of genomic regions implicated in asthma. This study used an elegant scheme to investigate chromosome 7p, which had been previously identified as containing susceptibility loci for asthma-related phenotypes. Positional cloning of asthma susceptibility genes was undertaken in the Kainuu subpopulation from Finland and two additional population samples from Quebec, Canada. A hierarchical gene mapping strategy was followed by identification of specific genes on the implicated DNA segment of chromosome 7. (more…)

Tumour Necrosis Factor Effects on Antagonism On Allergen-Mediated Asthmatic Airway Inflammation

Tumour Necrosis Factor is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of asthmatic airway inflammation, hyper-reactivity and remodelling. The primary aim of the trial was to assess whether TNF antagonism, using a soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor receptor (TNFR:Fc etanercept, Enbrel ® ), can attenuate eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma. (more…)

Effect Of Pet Removal On Pet Allergic Asthma

Allergen avoidance has been recommended in the management of allergic asthma children. Very few studies have assessed the effect of pet removal on pet allergic asthma. The authors examined the effect of pet removal from homes on pulmonary function testing, bronchial
hyper-responsiveness and medication use. This was a prospective, controlled but non-randomized and open study. Subjects included 20 symptomatic patients with newly diagnosed pet allergic asthma who were keeping domestic animals, including hamsters, cats, dogs and ferrets, and were sensitized to these animals. (more…)

Oral Food Challenges & Relationship to Allergen-Specific IgE Levels

Diagnosis of food hypersensitivity is a clinical challenge and the only current definitive test is the Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenges. Although the Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenges is the current gold standard, it is difficult to perform and is very time-consuming. Hence, researchers are continually evaluating new tests and assessing the value of the available serum tests. (more…)

Allergen Avoidance and Environment Control: Management of Allergy & Asthma

Allergen Avoidance
Asthma and allergic diseases are common in both children and adults. Their development depends on an interaction between asthma genetic and asthma environmental risk factors. Genetic manipulation in multi factorial diseases such as asthma is not feasible in the foreseeable future. However, theoretically, environmental exposures can be controlled in an attempt to stem the rising prevalence of these diseases (primary prevention). Environmental exposures may also influence the frequency of symptoms and the requirement for medication in those with established disease. (more…)

Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Risk of Asthma

Environmental Tobacco Smoke
The effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on children have been extensively studied and numerous surveys have consistently reported an association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory diseases or respiratory allergies. Strong evidence exists that passive smoking increases the risk of lower respiratory tract illnesses such as bronchitis, wheezy bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. (more…)

EpiPen Training For Kids With Food Allergies

EpiPen Training For Children
Families frequently do not use their self-injectable adrenaline device, even when their kids is experiencing a potentially life-threatening cardiorespiratory allergic reaction to a food allergen. Fatal food allergy anaphylaxis is rare but well recognized and the early use of intramuscular adrenaline may be life-saving. (more…)

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