Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

Measurement of airway resistance in anesthetized and paralyzed subjects: Proposal for evaluation of K1 values

The effects of lung volume and respiratory airflow on airway resistance were studied in five anesthetized and paralyzed patients. Airway resistance measured during the inspiratory phase with intermittent constant airflow inflatoins decreased in inverse correlationship to increases in lung volume. Airway resistance measured during the expiratory phase with an airway interruption technique, on the other hand, increased with a linear relationship to the expiratory airflow as expressed by a function of Y = K₁ + K₂X. K₁, calculated from the values of airway resistance corresponding to three different airflows, was unaffected by intentional expiratory resistance loading. Thus, simultaneously with the measurement of airway resistance by this method, expiratory gas sampling with a Douglas bag can be done if necessary. Since the K₂ value of the endotracheal tube used in this study (Portex^® I.D. 8mm, length 26cm) was quite high (5.0cmH₂O·1^–2·sec²), depending on the airflow, the presence of the endotracheal tube strongly affected the measurement of airway resistance during general anesthesia. K₁ measured by the above method, however, may be considered as the best way to evaluate the lower airway resistance independent of either lung volume or expiratory airflow.(Sakai T, Yoshida H, Yano H et al.: Measurement of airway resistance in anesthetized and paralyzed subjects: proposal for evaluation of K₁ values. J Anesth 2: 139–145, 1988)     

Relationships between allergic inflammation and nasal airflow in children with persistent allergic rhinitis due to mite sensitization

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is associated with Th2-dependent inflammation. Nasal obstruction is the most typical symptom in children with mite allergy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationships among nasal symptoms, allergic inflammation, including inflammatory cells and cytokine pattern, and nasal airflow in children with persistent allergic rhinitis because of mite sensitization. METHODS: Twenty children (13 males and seven females, mean age 13.4 +/- 1.6 years) with persistent rhinitis because of mite allergy were evaluated. All of them had moderate-severe grade of nasal obstruction. Total symptom score (TSS), rhinomanometry, nasal lavage, and nasal scraping were obtained in all subjects. Inflammatory cells were counted by conventional staining; interleukin (IL)-5, and IL-8 were measured by immunoassay on fluids recovered from nasal lavage. RESULTS: Eosinophils were significantly associated with TSS (R = 74.4%, P = 0.0002), with IL-5 (R = 90.6%, P < 0.0001) and with nasal flow (R = -69%, P = 0.0007), but not with IL-8 (R = 0.1%, P = 0.995). Eosinophil levels were shown to independently predict nasal flow (P < 0.001), with flow decreasing linearly for increasing eosinophils, together with a significant effect of neutrophils (P = 0.016, linear increase in flow) and a borderline effect of IL-8 (P = 0.063, linear increase in flow). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the close association between IL-5 concentration and eosinophil infiltration. In addition, there is clear evidence concerning the relationship between eosinophil infiltration and nasal airflow. Thus, nasal eosinophils can be regarded as the most important predictor of upper airway function. These findings constitute first evidence of the relationship between nasal airflow impairment and Th2-related eosinophilic inflammation in children with persistent allergic rhinitis because of mite sensitization.     

石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病检出情况及影响因素研究

目的探讨石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病检出情况及影响因素。方法2021年9—12月采用整群随机抽样方法抽取石家庄市3个社区,对抽中社区的所有居民进行问卷调查和肺功能检查。利用描述流行病学方法分析社区人群慢性阻塞性肺疾病患病现状。应用单、多因素方法分析影响慢性阻塞性肺疾病发生的危险因素。结果共2348名居民完成问卷调查和肺功能检查,其中男1205人,占51.32%,女1143人,占48.68%,年龄31~76岁。共有146例检出慢性阻塞性肺疾病,检出率为6.22%,其中轻度69例,占47.26%,中度54例,占36.99%,重度23例,占15.75%,未检出极重度者。检出来的症状分布中,以咳嗽及咳痰的比例较高,分别为52.05%(76例)和49.32%(72例)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示年龄≥40岁(OR=1.705、1.936)、男性(OR=3.404)、居住在农村(OR=2.469)、偶尔或经常吸烟(OR=1.592、1.800)、有职业粉尘接触史(OR=2.179)、有哮喘家族史(OR=3.164)、有慢性阻塞性肺疾病家族史(OR=5.170)、有呼吸道反复感染史(OR=3.414)是石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺病患病的影响因素。结论石家庄市居民的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患病情况不容乐观,且危险因素众多。重点针对中老年、吸烟、农村、有各种相关家族史的男性高危人群开展早期筛查和采取针对性干预措施,有助于对居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病进行防控。     

Variation of Nasal Respiratory Pattern With Age During Growth and Development

The purpose of this study was to determine changes in nasal respiratory pattern with growth and development, particularly to determine the age where upper airway growth ceases. The results on 361 healthy subjects, aged 7 to 24 years, based on aerodynamic measurements during rest breathing, showed clear differences between inspiratory and expiratory phases. Nasal airflow rate and cross-sectional area increased and oral-nasal pressure and nasal resistance decreased with age up to the age of 16, levelling by the age of 20 years. The body size and gender had effect only on nasal airflow rate. This study suggests that the measurements of the nasal respiratory pattern, determining impaired nasal airway, should be done during inspiration and using age-related assesment from a healthy population until the age of 16 years. From then on, guidelines for adults are applicable.     

连续气流通气对犬血流动力学的影响

目的：观察连续气流通气期间气道压力及流量对犬血流动力学的影响。方法：选用健康犬９只,在全麻肌松下,分别采用两种气道压（０ｃｍＨ２Ｏ,３ｃｍＨ２Ｏ）,３种不同气体流量（０６,０８,１０Ｌ·ｋｇ－１／ｍｉｎ）进行ＣＦＶ,每种通气方式维持３０ｍｉｎ后抽取股动脉血作血气分析,同时,测定各种通气组合时的血流动力学参数,并与间歇正压通气（ＩＰＰＶ）比较。结果：ＣＦＶ时,各组中心静脉压显著低于ＩＰＰＶ时值（Ｐ＜００５）,其余指标无显著差异。各组ＰａＣＯ２在正常范围。结论：ＣＦＶ时,对循环功能无不良影响,由于气道内压低,故中心静脉压明显降低。     

Estudio de los mecanismos implicados en la génesis y evolución del asma (proyecto MEGA): creación y seguimiento a largo plazo de una cohorte de pacientes asmáticos

The general aim of this study is to create a cohort of asthma patients with varying grades of severity in order to gain greater insight into the mechanisms underlying the genesis and course of this disease.The specific objectives focus on various studies, including imaging, lung function, inflammation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, to determine the relevant events that characterize the asthma population, the long-term parameters that can determine changes in the severity of patients, and the treatments that influence disease progression. The study will also seek to identify the causes of exacerbations and how this affects the course of the disease.Patients will be contacted via the outpatient clinics of the 8 participating institutions under the auspices of the Spanish Respiratory Diseases Networking System (CIBER). In the inclusion visit, a standardized clinical history will be obtained, a clinical examination, including blood pressure, body mass index, complete respiratory function tests, and FENO will be performed, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Morisky-Green test, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini AQLQ), the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) will be administered. A specific electronic database has been designed for data collection. Exhaled breath condensate, urine and blood samples will also be collected. Non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness testing with methacholine will be performed and an induced sputum sample will be collected at the beginning of the study and every 24 months. A skin prick test for airborne allergens and a chest CT will be performed at the beginning of the study and repeated every 5 years.