1,721,128 research outputs found
Metodiche non invasive di misura dell’infiammazione broncopolmonare.
No full textL’infi ammazione delle vie aeree è una componente importante di varie patologie respiratorie croniche, in particolare dell’asma e della BPCO. Lo studio dei meccanismi e delle caratteristiche dei processi infiammatori delle vie aeree ha contribuito a stabilire la patogenesi di queste malattie. La disponibilità di metodiche non invasive ha permesso di estendere la valutazione dell’infiammazione delle vie aeree dalla ricerca alla pratica clinica, favorendo un inquadramento più accurato del paziente affetto da alcune patologie polmonari. Le metodiche meglio standardizzate sono l’esame dell’espettorato indotto e la determinazione dell’ossido nitrico (NO) nell’aria espirata. Altre metodiche che sono trattate in questo capitolo sono la misura della temperatura dell’aria espirata e le analisi del condensato dell’aria espirata
Towards a better phenotyping of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
No full textChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. COPD is defined as a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extrapulmonary effects that may contribute to the severity in individual patients. Its pulmonary component is characterized by
airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases. COPD is conventionally assessed and monitored by symptoms and physiological measurements, including lung function test before and after inhaled medications.
These tests are standardized and used worldwide and they are considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis and classification of COPD. A limitation of these tests is that they cannot provide relevant information concerning the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease
Mechanism of occupational asthma
No full textInhalation of agents in the workplace can induce asthma in a relatively small proportion of exposed workers. Like nonoccupational asthma, occupational asthma is probably the result of multiple genetic, environmental, and behavioral influences. It is important that occupational asthma be recognized clinically, because it has serious medical and socioeconomic consequences. Environmental factors that can affect the initiation of occupational asthma include the intrinsic characteristics of causative agents, as well as the influence of the level and route of exposure at the workplace. The identification of host factors, polymorphisms, and candidate genes associated with occupational asthma may improve our understanding of mechanisms involved in asthma. High-molecular-weight compounds from biological sources and low-molecular-weight chemicals cause occupational asthma after a latent period of exposure. Although the clinical, functional and pathologic features of occupational asthma caused by low-molecular-weight agents resemble those of allergic asthma, the failure to detect specific immunoglobulin E antibodies against most low-molecular-weight agents has resulted in a search for alternative or complementary physiopathologic mechanisms leading to airway sensitization. Recent advances have been made in the characterization of the immune response to low-molecular-weight agents. In contrast, the mechanism of the form of occupational asthma that occurs without latency after high-level exposure to irritants remains undetermined
Asthma and rhino-conjunctivitis form exposure to rape flour: A clinical case report
No full textA 48 year old man, employed in a grain and animal feed store for 9 years, was referred to our clinic complaining of nasal blockage, rhinorrhea, sneezing, ocular burning, coughing and wheezing occurring over the last 12 months. The man's main task was to manually load and unload the unpackaged grain and feed. Symptoms occurred only when he worked directly with oilseed rape flour and not when he worked with other types of grains. Eye and nasal symptoms appeared during the work shift, while respiratory symptoms were worse at night than during the day after exposure to rape for more than 2 consecutive days. Physical examination was normal, as were the results of the pulmonary function studies. The methacholine inhalation test, performed to measure the level of non-specific airways responsiveness, showed normal bronchial reactivity. Results of allergy skin prick tests were negative for common inhalant and food allergens, but slightly positive for the oilseed rape flour extract. Registration of the peak expiratory flow (PEF) showed slight decreases in PEF values after occupational exposure. We conclude that this case is suggestive of asthma and rhino-conjunctivitis, induced by oilseed rape flour, probably due to an allergic mechanism
Sensitivity and reactivity to cholinergic drugs and histamine in normal, atopic and asthmatic subjects
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