... Abstract ‘Asthma' is derived from the Greek root ασθμαινω, meaning ‘gasp for breath'. The term originally did not define a disease, but was employed to describe respiratory symptoms of a variety of pulmonary conditions. Over the centuries, several models have been proposed to understand...

... Abstract In chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), changes in bronchial microvasculature are present and contribute to airway wall remodeling. Angiogenesis and vascular leak seem to be prevalent in asthma, while vasodilatation...

... Abstract Recent studies suggest that alterations of the arginine metabolome and a dysregulation of nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. <smlcap>L</smlcap>-Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is a common substrate for both the arginases...

...Introduction Epidemiology Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are obstructive lung diseases that are common throughout the world ( 1 , 2 ). Both diseases are part of major global epidemics, which are increasing in incidence particularly in developing countries ( 3 , 4...

... (asthma, allergies and allergic rhinitis). Infectious disease vaccine adjuvant Adjuvant effects of CpG ODN include enhancement of antigen-specific humoral and cellular adaptive immune responses in vaccination approaches against hepatitis B, influenza and anthrax. In influenza vaccination...

...-13 gene with asthma and atopy. Two of the most studied polymorphisms, one in the promoter and one in the coding region, have been recently associated with functional differences ( 6 - 8 ). For example, the IL-13 Gln 110 mutant, more prevalent in the asthmatic patient population, showed decreased...

...The target Leukotrienes, prostaglandins and platelet activating factor (PAF) have been implicated to various extents in asthma pathophysiology ( Fig. 1 ). For example, the leukotrienes are known to have profound biochemical and physiological effects even in picomolar concentrations, including...

... by IL-2 ( 16 ). PKC-θ-deficient mice displayed impaired Th2 immune responses against Nippostrongylus brasiliensis , and were protected from developing airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilia and immuno-globulin E in response to ovalbumin immunization and inhalation challenge in a murine asthma model...

... Abstract In children with difficult asthma or in asthmatic patients with overlapping disease, flexible bronchoscopy permits the examination of the morphology and the dynamics of the upper and lower airways. Moreover, it allows additional procedures to be performed. These include bronchoalveolar...

... Abstract Exacerbations are important events in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD). Reducing the number, frequency and the severity of exacerbations istherefore an important management goal identified by treatment guidelines for both diseases.There...

... Abstract In both children and adults, rhinovirus (RV) infections remain a major cause of exacerbationsin asthma. With the use of both in vitro models of RV infection and experimentalmodels of asthma exacerbation in humans, insight into the precise role of RV in this processhas been obtained. RV...

... are discussed in this chapter. Our understanding of the allergeninhalation challenge model and the complex interplay between leukocytes, tissue and inflammatorymediators will doubtlessly help to define novel and relevant targets for new drugs forthe treatment of allergic asthma. ...