Journal of Asthma (J ASTHMA)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Enhanced generation of suppressor T cells in patients with asthma taking oral contraceptives

  Vélez-Ortega AC, Temprano J, Reneer MC, Ellis GI, McCool A, Gardner T, Khosravi M, Marti F
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  ABSTRACT: Introduction. A dysregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) could play a major role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Sex-dependent differences as well as the impact of hormonal changes in the incidence and severity of asthma are widely recognized. Emerging evidence suggests that asthma symptoms are alleviated in female patients taking hormone oral contraceptives (OCs). The impact of OCs on the generation of induced Tregs (iTregs) was assessed in a cohort of female patients with asthma. Methods. Thirteen patients were included in this pilot study. During three distinct phases of their menstrual cycles, we measured exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels, forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1s), asthma control test (ACT) score, sex steroid hormone levels in serum, natural Tregs in peripheral blood, and the ability of CD4 T cells to generate iTregs ex vivo. Results. The luteal serum levels of estradiol and progesterone negatively correlated with the proportion of iTregs generated ex vivo in patients not taking OCs. In addition, physiological doses of estradiol and progesterone prevented the acquisition of a suppressor T cell phenotype in vitro. Interestingly, patients taking OCs had reduced serum sex hormone levels associated with higher iTreg induction, a better ACT score, and a tendency toward lower eNO levels. Conclusions. Our results identify an impact of sex hormones on the capacity of T cells to polarize towards a regulatory phenotype and suggest the regulation of peripheral T cell lineage plasticity as a potential mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of OCs in women with asthma.
  Journal of Asthma 04/2013; 50(3):223.
• Article: Effectiveness of Omalizumab in a Patient with Severe Asthma, Low Serum IgE Level, and Lack of Sensitized Allergens Induced by Oral Steroid Therapy: The Usefulness of Impulse Oscillation for Assessment of Omalizumab Therapy.Matsuno O, Komori C, Hang Y, Matsumoto T, Minamoto S.J Asthma. 2012 Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print]

  Matsuno O, Komori C, Hang Y, Matsumoto T, Minamoto S
  Journal of Asthma 01/2012;
• Article: Omalizumab Therapy in Severe Asthma: Experience from the Spanish Registry-Some New Approaches

  Vennera MD, Pérez De Llano L, Bardagí S, Ausin P, Sanjuas C, González H, Gullón JA, Martínez-Moragón E, Carretero JA, Vera E, Medina JF, Alvarez FJ, Entrenas LM, Padilla A, Irigaray R, Picado C
  Journal of Asthma 01/2012;
• Article: Determinants of asthma control in tertiary level in Turkey: a cross-sectional multicenter survey

  Turktas H, Mungan D, Uysal MA, Oguzulgen K, Arbak P, Ogus C, Capan N, Saglam L, Yorgancioglu A, Celik P, [......], Cuhadaroglu C, Ozkan S, Bulbul Y, Yildiz F, Ceyhan B, Zamani A, Akkaya E, Camsari G, Ardic S, Kelesoglu A
  Journal of Asthma 06/2010;
• Article: Association between Obesity and Asthma in US Children and Adolescents

  Naveed Ahmad, Swati Biswas, Sejong Bae, Karen Meador, Rong Huang, Karan Singh
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  ABSTRACT: Background. To explore the association between obesity and asthma in US children and adolescents with adjustment of other structural and behavioral factors. Method. Prevalence and associated risk factors of asthma were explored in 102,273 children and adolescents in the National Survey of Children's Health (2003-2004). Subgroup analysis was performed for subjects of 0-6 year-old, 7-12 year-old, and 13-17 year-old. Crude and adjusted odds ratios for the potential risk factors were examined in univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results. The overall prevalence of obesity was 24.5% and that of asthma was 12.5%. The adjusted odds ratio of asthma with obesity remains significantly bigger than 1 for children in the 7-12 and the 13-17 year-old age-groups. Gender and race were significantly associated with asthma in all age groups. The two parent family structure showed significant protectiveness against asthma with children in the 0-6 year-old age group. Poverty was positively associated with asthma in the 7-12 years old age group. Having a smoker in the household increased the odds of asthma by 29% and 23.5% in the 0-6 and 13-17 year-old age-groups, respectively. Higher education level of the parents and access to healthcare showed positive association with asthma in the 13-17 year-old age group. Conclusion. Gender and race were significantly associated with asthma. In the 13-17 year-old age-groups, obesity, household education level, healthcare coverage, and household smoking were positively associated with asthma. Further studies should characterize how the family structure and household education level influence childhood asthma in 0-6 and 13-17 year-old age-groups respectively.
  Journal of Asthma 08/2009; 46(7):642-646.
• Article: The prevalence of atopy and asthma among university freshmen in Seoul, Korea: association with obesity.

  Young Yoo, Hong Ki Ko, Jae Joon Han, Yoon Lee, Kang Jin Seo, Ji Tae Choung, Young Chang Tockgo, Jae-Gol Choe
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  ABSTRACT: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of atopy, asthma, and obesity in university freshmen and to determine whether leptin is associated with bronchodilator reversibility in obesity. A total of 537 university freshmen completed International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire and underwent skin prick testing and bronchodilator reversibility test. The prevalences of asthma, wheeze, and atopy were 10 (1.9%), 84 (15.6%), and 198 (36.9%), respectively. The mean (+/- SD) bronchodilator response (5.1 +/- 4.4%) was higher in the overweight/obese men than in the normal male subjects (3.7 +/- 3.2%, p < 0.05). The mean leptin level in the overweight/obese men was 5.55 +/- 3.48 ng/mL, which was significantly higher than that (2.78 +/- 1.65 ng/mL) of the normal male subjects. The prevalence of asthma among university freshmen is seriously under-diagnosed and leptin may play a role in bronchodilator reversibility in overweight/obese young men.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 44(1):45-9.
• Article: Co-administration of vaccination with DNA encoding T cell epitope on the Der p and BCG inhibited airway remodeling in a murine model of chronic asthma.

  Chi Hong Kim, Joong Hyun Ahn, Seung Joon Kim, Sook-Young Lee, Young Kyoon Kim, Kwan Hyoung Kim, Hwa Sik Moon, Jeong Sup Song, Sung Hak Park, Soon Seog Kwon
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  ABSTRACT: Therapeutic modalities of airway remodeling in asthma have proved to be unsuccessful regarding reversing the previously established chronic airway changes. Recently, the potential of plasmid DNA to inhibit the Th2 immune response has been demonstrated in animal models of asthma. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunization also induced immunomodulation, which appeared to be reliant on the properties of the interferon-gamma that was produced. Mice were immunized with house dust mite extract (HDM). At the 3 week point, we injected BCG subcutaneously into mice on three successive weeks. One week after the BCG injection, we immunized mice with the DNA plasmid encoding for murine T-cell epitope on Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus 2 thrice weekly. At 9 weeks after immunization, we measured airway responsiveness. Twenty four hours later, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage and histological examinations. Co-administration of DNA vaccination and BCG resulted in a partial suppression of the overproduction of goblet cells and the thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle in ongoing allergic responses. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the number of total cells and eosinophils was reduced, and regarding the change of cytokines, the concentration of IL-4 was also decreased, but interferon-gamma was increased in the co-administration group, opposed to the asthma group. These results suggest that co-administration of vaccination with the DNA encoding T-cell epitope and BCG are effective regarding ongoing allergic response and might constitute an ideal method for combating allergic disease in the future.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 43(5):345-53.
• Article: Influences on childhood asthma in low-income communities in China and the United States.

  Noreen M Clark, Molly Gong, Randall W Brown, Elizabeth W Anderson, Jian Yu, Melissa A Valerio, Christine L M Joseph, Guixian Wu, Zhechun Zeng, Zhaosu Wu
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  ABSTRACT: For comparison of childhood asthma, the same case-finding survey and parent interview questionnaires were used to collect data from 639 children with asthma in 21 elementary schools in Beijing and 835 children with asthma in 14 elementary schools in Detroit, Michigan. Asthma prevalence in Beijing (7.3%) was more than three times lower than in Detroit (24%) despite a high level of smoking among Chinese parents. Body mass index (BMI; weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) levels were higher in Detroit but were not associated with persistent asthma in either country. Higher levels of past infection in Beijing and household allergens in Detroit were noted and may be associated with differences in prevalence. Despite less severe disease observed in Beijing, hospitalizations and office visits did not differ from Detroit. This may be partially associated with less use of anti-inflammatory medicine and lower levels of parental asthma management in China.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 42(6):493-7.
• Article: Asthma attack associated with oxidative stress by exposure to ETS and PAH.

  Jong Han Leem, Jeong Hee Kim, Kwan Hee Lee, Yun chul Hong, Kyoung Ho Lee, Daehee Kang, Ho Jang Kwon
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  ABSTRACT: Asthma is primarily an airways inflammatory disease, and the bronchial airways have been shown to be particularly susceptible to oxidant-induced tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary inflammation in asthma is associated with exposure to environmental oxidants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). We assessed the exposure level of PAH and ETS by using urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) and cotinine. We estimated oxidative damage and inflammatory cytokine levels from 16 asthma patients and 16 patients in stable conditions 1 to 2 months later. Our study showed that the levels of oxidative damage, as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA), were significantly increased (p = 0.006) during the asthma attacks. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were both increased during the asthma attacks compared to the stable conditions at follow-up. Interleukin (IL-6) and IL-10 were especially increased significantly (p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively). Correlations were observed between inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1beta (p = 0.034). This study supports the results of in vitro studies that oxidative stress, specifically lipid peroxidation, contributes to the pathophysiology of asthma. Therefore, environmental interventions based on this better understanding are needed to significantly reduce oxidant stress and prevent or minimize the development of asthmatic symptoms.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 42(6):463-7.
• Article: Risk factors associated with occurrence of clinical deterioration after cessation of beclomethasone in asthmatic children and adolescents.

  Maria Teresa Mohallem Fonseca, Paulo Augusto Moreira Camargos, Laura Maria Belizario Facury Lasmar, Enrico Colosimo, Marina Mohallem Fonseca
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  ABSTRACT: Despite recent advances in the treatment of asthma using inhaled corticosteroids, the outcome for children after its discontinuation is not well known. This study aims to analyze the rate of clinical deterioration and related risk factors after beclomethasone withdrawal in asthmatic children and adolescents. One hundred two subjects with moderate or severe persistent asthma, who had started treatment with beclomethasone at the age of 2-11 years, were followed for 1 year after drug cessation. Depending on the occurrence of clinical deterioration, they were allocated to two groups, and then comparisons were made with respect to clinical criteria and skin prick test results. Statistical analysis was undertaken by using descriptive statistics and Cox's regression model. Treatment with beclomethasone had to be restarted in 28 patients (27.5%) because of relapse. There was a significant association with the risk of clinical deterioration with mother's history of asthma [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.01-4.76, p = 0.04] and father's history of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis (HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.06-5.26, p = 0.03). A period shorter than 6 months without symptoms before prophylaxis cessation (HR = 2.26, 95% CI = 0.98-5.26, p = 0.05) and atopy (RH = 2.75, 95% CI = 0.94-7.69, p = 0.06) were also associated with risk of relapse but with marginal statistical significance. Results suggest that clinical benefits were maintained for at least 1 year in the majority of the children after the cessation of prophylaxis. Special attention must be given to those with atopy and a parental history of asthma and rhinitis because of the risk of clinical deterioration.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 42(6):479-85.
• Article: Treatment regimens and health care utilization in children with persistent asthma symptoms.

  H Lorrie Yoos, Harriet Kitzman, Jill S Halterman, Charles Henderson, Kimberly Sidora-Arcoleo, Ann McMullen
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  ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory medication regimens in children with persistent asthma, determined their health care utilization patterns, and evaluated factors associated with failure to seek and/or receive appropriate treatment. Parents of 68% of children who qualified for anti-inflammatory medications by National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines reported their use. However, only 14% received an optimal regimen (mild intermittent symptoms), while 55% were still symptomatic despite reported medications (suboptimal regimen). Nearly half of symptomatic children did not have a health care visit; of those who did, 61% had no corrective action documented. Factors contributing to variations in regimen and utilization are discussed.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 43(5):385-91.
• Article: Obesity and its relationship with asthma prevalence and severity in adolescents from southern Brazil.

  Vitor Emanuel Cassol, Tiago Moraes Rizzato, Stefania Pigatto Teche, Débora Fernanda Basso, Diogo Ferrari Centenaro, Martín Maldonado, Eliane Zenir Colpo Moraes, Vânia Naomi Hirakata, Dirceu Solé, Sérgio Saldanha Menna-Barreto
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  ABSTRACT: Obesity has been pointed out as a risk factor for higher prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms in adolescents. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of asthma and obesity in adolescents living in Santa Maria and surroundings (state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil), applying the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. A total of 4,010 of 6,123 schoolchildren, 13 to 14 years of age, enrolled in the ISAAC phase III protocol (asthma core questionnaire) and were nutritionally evaluated: height, weight, and triceps skinfold (TSF) measurements. Prevalence of asthma (wheeze in the last 12 months) and prevalence of severe asthma (two or more affirmative responses to: more than 4 acute attacks of asthma, speech disturbance, sleep disturbance, wheezing with exercise) were evaluated and compared according to their nutritional status: obese and non-obese. Obese adolescents were defined by body mass index (BMI, in kg/m(2)) > or =85th percentile and TSF > or =85th percentile. Obese and non-obese groups were compared for prevalence of asthma and asthma severity using the Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Analyzing all adolescents, we observed a significant positive relationship between the prevalence of obesity and affirmative responses to "wheeze ever" (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.08-1.52), "wheezing with exercise" (OR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.11-1.66), "asthma ever" (OR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.62), and severe asthma (OR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.12-2.14). Among the boys, there was a significant positive association between obesity and "wheeze ever" (OR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.13-1.86). In girls, there was a significant positive relationship with "asthma ever" (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.01-1.88) and "wheezing with exercise" (OR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.11-1.66). This cross-sectional study with adolescents living in the southern region of Brazil showed that there is a positive association between obesity and prevalence of asthma symptoms and asthma severity, a finding mainly confined to girls.
  Journal of Asthma 07/2009; 43(1):57-60.
• Article: Effect of TRFK-5 on airway responsiveness in ovalbumin-treated guinea pigs exposed to tobacco smoke.

  Dale R Bergren
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  ABSTRACT: Tobacco smoke (TS) exposure can induce airway hyperresponsiveness, especially in asthma. A feature of asthma is eosinophilia. We hypothesized that tobacco smoke exposure enhances eosinophil responsiveness in sensitized guinea pigs. Tobacco smoke-exposed, ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized guinea pigs were treated with TRFK-5 (1.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), an anti-interleukin (IL)-5 agent, or its vehicle. Guinea pigs were challenged with aerosols of OA, capsaicin, histamine, and methacholine. TRFK-5 attenuated airway responsiveness to OA but not to capsaicin, histamine, or methacholine. Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid analysis confirmed TRFK-5 attenuated airway eosinophilia in OA-treated guinea pigs. Therefore, airway responsiveness to OA is enhanced by eosinophils or IL-5 itself.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):529-34.
• Article: The development of asthma in wheezing infants with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.

  Masafumi Zaitsu
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  ABSTRACT: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection might play a role in the pathology of asthma, but its role in infantile asthma remains obscure. The presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae was serologically determined in wheezing infants who were then re-examined 1-year later to determine whether or not asthma is associated with this type of infection. Wheezing infants progressed to asthma more frequently after infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae than those who were not infected. These findings suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae infection triggers asthma in wheezy infants.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):565-8.
• Article: Teacher asthma management and information seeking scale.

  Yvette Q Getch, Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett
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  ABSTRACT: This article presents the design and evaluation of the Teacher Asthma Management and Information Seeking Scale. Based on a sample of 593 kindergarten to eighth grade teachers, the scale yielded two factors: the Asthma Management (= 0.90) and the Information Seeking Factor (= 0.71). This scale fills a needed gap in the literature regarding assessment tools for school-based asthma management that focus on teacher behavior.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):497-500.
• Article: Ethical issues in adolescent and parent informed consent for pediatric asthma research participation.

  David G Scherer, Robert D Annett, Janet L Brody
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  ABSTRACT: This article reviews the empirical literature related to knowledge, competence, volition, and financial compensation in the biomedical research decision-making of children, adolescents, and parents. Research findings indicate there are differences in adolescent and parent understanding and appreciation of research risks and procedures, that opinions about decision-making authority and physician influence for research participation are different in adolescents and parents, and that financial compensation can be a salient factor in the research-related decision-making process. Pediatric asthma researchers can consider these psychological factors involved in adolescent and parent research participation decision-making processes to develop effective informed consent procedures.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):489-96.
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  Available from: luciasnoei.nl

  Article: Illness perceptions and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

  Margreet Scharloo, Adrian A Kaptein, Maryanne Schlösser, Harry Pouwels, Elisabeth H Bel, Klaus F Rabe, Emiel F M Wouters
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  ABSTRACT: This study aimed at identifying cognitive and emotional representations relevant for improving health care communication and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One-hundred-seventy-one COPD outpatients completed questionnaires on illness perceptions and QoL. After controlling for the effects of age, pulmonary function, and dyspnea, patients with decreased attention to symptoms, with more positive beliefs about the effects and outcomes of their illness, and with less strong emotional reactions to the illness, had higher QoL scores. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the associations found in other illnesses.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):575-81.
• Source

  Available from: utoronto.ca

  Article: An economic evaluation of asthma action plans for children with asthma.

  Julie Polisena, Susanna Tam, Abhay Lodha, Audrey Laporte, Peter C Coyte, Wendy J Ungar
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  ABSTRACT: The costs and effectiveness of asthma action plans for children were evaluated in a cross-sectional economic analysis. Direct health care and indirect costs, nights with symptoms, and asthma attacks were measured in 879 Ontario children with asthma. From a societal perspective, the total annual costs of the asthma action plan and the control groups were CDN$6,948 and CDN$6,140 per patient, respectively. Health outcomes were similar. The difference in cost was attributable to greater medication and health services use in the intervention group. Prospective randomized trials are necessary to measure potential improvements in control of asthma using asthma action plans.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):501-8.
• Article: Cumulative risk and asthma outcomes in inner-city African-American youth.

  Katherine Leigh Josie, Rachel Neff Greenley, Dennis Drotar
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  ABSTRACT: A cumulative risk framework was used to examine the impact of the presence of multiple risk factors on key asthma outcomes (i.e., health-related quality of life [HRQoL], severity) for a sample of 149 inner-city African-American youth with asthma. The presence of a greater number of risk factors was associated with lower HRQoL and greater severity, regardless of age or gender. Cumulative risk methodology, in combination with selection of risk factors based on theoretical and empirical work, is a viable option for researchers and clinicians who are interested in examining the impact of multiple risk factors on disease functioning and status.
  Journal of Asthma 10/2007; 44(7):535-41.