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- Björnsson, Eyþór, et al.
(författare)
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Airway hyperresponsiveness, peak flow variability and inflammatory markers in non-asthmatic subjects with respiratory infections
- 2007
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Ingår i: Clinical Respiratory Journal. - : Wiley. - 1752-6981. ; 1:1, s. 42-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to characterise non-asthmatic subjects with asthma-like symptoms during a common cold, particularly in relation to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Materials and Methods: Subjects with acute respiratory infections and a group of controls (n = 20 + 20), age 20-65 years, underwent bronchial provocations with methacholine, adenosine and cold air. All were non-smokers and had no history of asthma or heart disease. Those with infection had asthma-like symptoms (> , 2). Measurements of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil peroxidase, myeloperoxidase and human neutrophil lipocalin were made at each provocation. A 17-day symptom and peak flow diary was calculated. Results: No differences between the two groups were found, regarding responsiveness to methacholine, adenosine or cold air challenge, as well as the inflammatory markers measured. In the infected group, the mean (standard deviation) ECP was higher in those with AHR to methacholine or cold air [15.7 (6.5) and 11.4 (4.2) mg/L, respectively; P < , 0.05], furthermore, eNO was higher in the infected group [116 ( 54) and 88 ( 52) nL/min, respectively, P = 0.055]. The infected group had, at all times, more symptoms and higher peak flow, with a decrease in the symptoms (P = 0.02) and a tendency to change in peak flow variation (P = 0.06). Conclusion: AHR does not seem to be the main cause of asthma-like symptoms in adults with infectious wheezing. Peak flow variation and symptom prevalence during the post-infection period may imply airway pathology different from AHR.
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| 2. |
- Gunnbjörnsdóttir, María Ingibjörg, 1966-
(författare)
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Asthma and Respiratory Symptoms in Nordic Countries, Environmental and Personal Risk Factors
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aims of our studies were to identify risk factors for respiratory symptoms and asthma in indoor environment but even to look at some personal risk factors such as body mass index and gastroesophageal reflux. The study population is based on participants of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I and II. In the first study, water damage and visible moulds were reported in 7.4% and 17% of the homes respectively. The combination of water damage and visible moulds was independently associated with attacks of breathlessness when resting and after activity and also to long term cough. In the second study, the prevalence of nocturnal GER increased with higher BMI and the same pattern could be seen for habitual snoring. Reported onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms increased in prevalence along with the BMI gradient. In the multivariable analysis, obesity and nocturnal GER were independent risk factors for onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms. Habitual snoring was an independent risk factor for onset of wheeze and night-time symptoms, but not for onset of asthma. In the third study, a total of 18% of the subjects reported indoor dampness in the last 12 months and 27% of the subjects reported indoor dampness since the previous survey. Respiratory symptoms and asthma were significantly more prevalent in individuals exposed to indoor dampness and indoor dampness was a risk factor for respiratory symptoms and asthma after adjusting for possible confounders. Indoor dampness was an independent risk factor for onset of respiratory symptoms but not for asthma onset. Remission of respiratory symptoms was less likely to occur if subjects reported indoor dampness. In the fourth study, the lowest prevalence of atopy and the lowest levels of all indoor allergens, bacteria and moulds were found in Iceland. A positive association was found, between cat allergen exposure and asthma symptoms and between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the amount of viable mould in indoor air.
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| 3. |
- Gunnbjörnsdottir, Maria I, et al.
(författare)
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Indoor environment in three North European cities in relationship to atopy and respiratory symptoms
- 2009
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Ingår i: Clinical Respiratory Journal. - 1752-6981. ; 3:2, s. 85-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) I, the lowest prevalence of asthma and atopy was found in Reykjavik (Iceland) and Tartu (Estonia). The aim of this study was to compare home environments in Reykjavik and Tartu to a town with a higher prevalence of asthma and atopy (Uppsala, Sweden) in an attempt to identify factors in the indoor environment that could explain these differences. A random sample of 129 ECRHS II participants was included in this analysis at each of the three study centres. The subjects answered a questionnaire, blood was analysed for specific immunoglobulin E, a methacholine test was performed and home indoor measurements were taken. The prevalence of atopy was 11.9% in Reykjavik, 35.5% in Uppsala and 28.2% in Tartu (P < 0.04). The level of indoor cat allergen was significantly lower in Reykjavik compared with Uppsala (P = 0.05). No mite allergens were identified in the 41 homes investigated in Reykjavik, while this was the case in 16% and 72% of the households in Uppsala and Tartu, respectively (P = 0.001). A positive association was found between asthma symptoms and cat allergen levels [odds ratio 1.53 (95% confidence interval 1.04-2.24)], while the levels of viable moulds were significantly associated with increased bronchial responsiveness. Indoor exposure to allergens, moulds and bacteria was lower in Reykjavik than in the Swedish and Estonian centres. This finding indicates that the lower prevalence of allergic sensitization in Reykjavik may partly be related to lower indoor allergen exposure. Please cite this paper as: Gunnbjornsdottir MI, NorbAck D, Bjornsson E, Soon A, Jarvis D, Jogi R, Gislason D, Gislason T and Janson C. Indoor environment in three North European cities in relationship to atopy and respiratory symptoms. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2009; 3: 85-94.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Janson, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Circulating adhesion molecules in allergic and non-allergic asthma
- 2005
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 99:1, s. 45-51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Circulating forms of adhesion molecules (intercellular-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin ) are related to the turnover of these molecules on the cell surface. In contrast to the other molecules, the levels of E-selectin probably exclusively reflect the activity of endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to compare levels of circulating adhesion molecules in patients with allergic (AA) and non-allergic asthma (NA) and to relate the levels of soluble adhesion molecules to methacholine responsiveness and lung function. The study comprised 19 patients with AA, 15 patients with NA and 17 healthy subjects. Soluble adhesion molecules, spirometry, methacholine responsiveness and peak flow variability was measured. The group of patients with AA had higher levels of sE-selectin than the reference group (P=0.046). Serum levels of sE-selectin correlated significantly with bronchial responsiveness (r=0.76) and peak flow variability (r=0.75) (P<0.01) in the NA but not in the AA group. All adhesion molecules in AA (P<0.05-<0.001), but only sE-selectin in NA (P<0.05), were correlated to airway conductance. sVCAM-1 was reduced by inhaled steroids (P<0.01). Our results indicate that endothelial cells are activated in asthma and that this activity has a bearing on airflow variability and bronchial responsiveness in NA.
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| 6. |
- Shahana, Shahida, et al.
(författare)
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Ultrastructure of bronchial biopsies from patients with allergic and non-allergic asthma
- 2005
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 99:4, s. 429-443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epithelial damage is commonly found in airways of asthma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate epithelial damage in allergic and non-allergic asthma at the ultrastructural level.Bronchial biopsies obtained from patients with allergic asthma (n=11n=11), non-allergic asthma (n=7n=7), and healthy controls (n=5n=5) were studied by transmission electron microscopy.Epithelial damage was found to be extensive in both asthma groups. Both in basal and in columnar cells, relative desmosome length was reduced by 30–40%. In columnar cells, half-desmosomes (i.e., desmosomes of which only one side was present) were frequently noticed. Eosinophils showing piece-meal degranulation were commonly observed in allergic asthma. Degranulating mast cells were more often observed in allergic asthma. Goblet cell hyperplasia was only found in allergic asthma. Lymphocytes were increased in both groups. In both groups, the lamina densa of the basal lamina was thicker than the control by about 40–50%. In allergic asthma the lamina densa was irregular with focal thickening.While there was always a tendency for changes (epithelial damage, desmosomes, degranulating mast cells, basal lamina) to be more extensive in allergic asthma compared to non-allergic asthma, there was no significant difference between the two groups in this respect. Reduced desmosomal contact may be an important factor in the epithelial shedding observed in patients with asthma.
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