196,219 research outputs found
NEUTROPHILIC CELLS IN SPUTUM OF ALLERGIC ASTHMATIC CHILDREN
No full textAirway inflammation is regarded as a central feature of asthma and is mostly sustained by eosinophilic infiltrate. Recent studies have shown that a co-activation of eosinophil- and neutrophil-dependent inflammatory mechanisms might explain why some asthmatics do not respond to conventional asthma therapy. The aim of our study is to determine whether neutrophilic inflammation was involved in 55 allergic children with mild-moderate persistent asthma and the relationship with the response to steroid treatment. Before the sputum analysis, all children underwent spirometry with the reversibility test, and were divided into two groups on the basis of the response (such as >12% of baseline FEV1): group 1 positive and group 2 negative. Eosinophil cationic protein concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and neutrophyl myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations were measured by an MPO-EIA. Ten healthy children of comparable ages served as control group. Total IgE, FEV1 and FEV/FVC values were similar in both groups. The sputum macrophage count was higher in controls than in allergic asthmatics, but there was no difference between groups 1 and 2 (59.6% vs 18.3% and 17%; p≤ 0.005). Sputum neutrophils were significantly higher in group 2 both vs controls (62% vs 34%; p≤ 0.005) and vs group 1 (62% vs 37%; p≤ 0.005). Our data suggest that neutrophils are involved in airway allergic inflammation in mild-moderate persistent childhood asthma and a high neutrophil count in sputum may be related to a lower responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroid
Atopy and house dust mite sensitization as risk factors for asthma in children
No full textRecent evidence suggests that asthma is not invariably related to atopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of atopy, asthma and sensitization to eight common allergens in a large group of children with allergic symptoms.
METHODS:
1426 children referred to our Paediatric Asthma and Allergy Center because of allergic symptoms were examined. Bronchial asthma, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, food allergy and atopic dermatitis were diagnosed with standardized methods. Atopy was diagnosed if at least one skin test was positive.
RESULTS:
Of the 1426 children examined, 629 (44%) were atopic and 769 (56%) were non-atopic. Asthma was diagnosed in the same proportion (i.e., 64%) of atopic and non-atopic children. However, after division into age groups, non-atopic asthma was significantly more prevalent (chi2 = 8.46) in children between 0 and 3 years old (group 1). On the other hand, atopy was significantly associated with asthma only in group 3 (odds ratio 1.85). Furthermore, a significant association with asthma symptoms was found for house dust mite (HDM) in group 3 (odds ratio 4.8).
CONCLUSIONS:
Asthma is related to atopy in pre-selected children only from the age of 7 years. House dust mite sensitization seems to be an important determinant of asthma in these "older" children
L'intellettuale Antisemita
No full textIl fascismo fu razzista per vocazione o per convenienza? Le leggi razziali del 1938 furono l’esito di un’ideologia autoritaria spinta al suo estremo dalla disumanizzazione della «guerra civile europea» o l’approdo inesorabile di un movimento impegnato nella realizzazione di un progetto totalitario di conquista della società e di eliminazione genocidiaria dei nemici?
Dopo un lungo silenzio – quasi una rimozione – la cultura italiana si sta da qualche tempo applicando per trovare risposta a questi interrogativi, cercando in particolare di chiarire le responsabilità che un intero paese ebbe, a diverso titolo, nella promozione e nel sostegno di una cultura antisemita.
In questa prospettiva, cruciale fu il ruolo svolto dagli intellettuali: un ceto sempre strategico nella formazione dell’opinione pubblica, ma decisivo in un regime autoritario.
Ne hanno discusso, confrontando i loro diversi orientamenti, autorevoli studiosi dell’antisemitismo e della cultura italiana nel Ventennio: Cristina Baldassini, Giovanni Belardelli, Roberta Cairoli, Annalisa Capristo, Alberto Cavaglion, Francesco Germinario, Claudia Mantovani, Renato Moro, Gianni Scipione Rossi, Maurizio Serra
Blunted glucose metabolism in anorexia nervosa
No full textOnly few studies have specifically investigated diet-induced thermogenesis in anorexia nervosa. Twenty women, 10 anorectics (body mass index [BMI] = 14.98 +/- 1.02 kg/m(2)) and 10 controls (BMI = 22.53 +/- 0.75 kg/m(2)) were studied. Body composition was evaluated by isotopic dilution. Respiratory gas exchange was measured by indirect calorimetry. An oral glucose load (75 g) was administered to the anorectics (A) and the controls (CA). The controls underwent a second load (CB) with a higher glucose amount (1.85 +/- 0.11 g/kg body weight [BW]) to compare with the load taken by anorectics. Glucose-induced thermogenesis (GIT) was computed for 300 minutes following the load as the percent increase of energy expenditure (EE) above resting-EE (REE). Serum glucose levels were lower in anorectic patients both in fasting (3.46 +/- 0.66 v 5.23 +/- 0.23 in CA, P <.01 v 5.32 +/- 0.34 mmol in CB, P <.01) and in the postprandial state (glucose area under the curve [AUC] 175.51 +/- 6.40 v 289.80 +/- 7.30 in CA, P <.01 v 324.65 mmol in CB, P <.001); insulin AUC was lower, 1,926 +/- 452 versus 41,148 +/- 2,071 in CA, P <.0001 versus 60,765.5 pmol in CB, P <.0001. REE, normalized by fat-free mass (FFM), was similar between groups. GIT was lower in anorectics (3.58 +/- 1.20 v 5.45 +/- 1.83 in CA, P <.05 v 9.09% +/- 1.05% in CB, P <.01). Glucose oxidation was higher in anorectics than in CA (689.44 +/- 72.22 v 333.32 +/- 32.98 micromol/L/min, P <.001), but similar to CB. Lipid oxidation become negative after 30 minutes in anorectics (postprandial lipid oxidation = -93.58 +/- 39.86 v 370.61 +/- 21.73 in CA, P <.0001 v 119.01 +/- 12.32 micromol/L/300 min in CB, P <.0001). Anorectic patients displayed a low REE and GIT. Carbohydrate oxidation was similar between groups; lipid oxidation was extremely reduced. An increased protein catabolism was observed
Formoterol, montelukast, and budesonide in asthmatic children: Effect on lung function and exhaled nitric oxide
No full textSummaryBackgroundIt has been proposed that asthma control may be achieved in part by minimizing airway inflammation. The simultaneous effects of inhaled steroids associated with long-acting β-agonists and leukotriene antagonists on pulmonary function and airway inflammation are still largely unexplored in children with moderate persistent asthma.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of add-on therapy with long-acting β-agonists and leukotriene antagonists on FEV1 and exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) in children.MethodsForty-eight steroid-naïve atopic asthmatic children, 7–11 years of age, were randomly treated in four groups for two consecutive one-month periods, as follows: (1) first month: budesonide 200μg twice daily; second month: budesonide 400μg twice daily; (2) first month: budesonide 200μg twice daily+formoterol 9μg twice daily; second month: budesonide 200μg twice daily+montelukast 5mg once daily; (3) first month: budesonide 200μg twice daily+montelukast 5mg once daily; second month budesonide 200μg+formoterol 9μg twice daily; (4) first and second month: budesonide 400μg twice daily.ResultsAll treatments resulted in a significant increase in lung function and a decrease in FENO compared with values at baseline. Budesonide+montelukast in combination was the most effective treatment for reducing FENO levels.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that add-on therapy with montelukast plus low-dose budesonide is more effective than the addition of long-acting β-agonists or doubling the dose of budesonide for controlling FENO in asthmatic children
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