Conclusions: : These findings suggest that baseline Rmin, a measurement that is easier to perform than spirometry, performs as well as or better than standard spirometric indices in distinguishing subjects with airway hyperresponsiveness from those without hyperresponsive airways. The relationship of baseline Rmin to asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness likely reflects a causal relation between conditions that stiffen airway walls and hyperresponsiveness. In conjunction with symptom history, Rmin could provide a clinically useful tool for assessing asthma and monitoring response to treatment. (Source: Respiratory Research)

Asthma and many ailments can be partially just in your head research released this week claims. A new study finds that the power of the placebo effect versus albuterol inhalers left asthma patients thinking that real and fake drugs were doing the same level of good. The results even convinced patients they were breathing much better even if they hadn't taken a real drug and hadn't actually improved much... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Utility of the peripheral blood basophil histamine release test in the diagnosis of hen's egg, cow's milk, and wheat allergy in children.

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;155 Suppl 1:96-103

Authors: Sato S, Tachimoto H, Shukuya A, Ogata M, Komata T, Imai T, Tomikawa M, Ebisawa M

The diagnosis of food allergy (FA) is made by oral food challenge tests (OFCs) that occasionally produce serious symptoms in patients; therefore, whether to perform OFCs should be carefully considered. The utility of the histamine release test (HRT) in the diagnosis of childhood FA has not been fully examined.

PMID: 21646803 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Cockroach induces inflammatory responses through protease-dependent pathways.

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;155 Suppl 1:135-41

Authors: Wada K, Matsuwaki Y, Moriyama H, Kita H

Exposure to cockroaches is a major risk factor for asthma. Products from cockroaches may contain proteases and ligands for pattern recognition receptors. These molecules may activate airway inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils, that are involved in asthma. Among inner-city children, cockroach allergens play an especially important role in increasing asthma morbidity. The molecular mechanism for this association between cockroach exposure and asthma is not fully understood. Enzymatic activities from cockroaches activate inflammatory cells in the airways and may also exacerbate certain human airway diseases, such as asthma. We recently reported that cockroach extracts contain pepstatin A-sensitive proteases that activate PAR-2 and induce activation and degranulation of human eosinophils. This review focuses on the effects of cockroach on various inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, dendritic cells, and T cells, in allergic reactions.

PMID: 21646809 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]