Asthma can have clinical seasonal fluctuations due to different exposure factors. The analysis of our data and literature confirm a seasonal trend of asthma severity. In this brief review, authors discuss the possibility to adapt maintenance therapy level to clinical seasonal fluctuations, by increasing treatment in some seasons to prevent exacerba....

Background: The exponential increase of individuals aged >64 yrs is expected to impact the burden of asthma. We aimed to explore the level of asthma control in elderly subjects, and factors influencing it. Methods: A multicenter observational study was performed on consecutive patients >64 years old with a documented physician-diagnosis of as....

Purpose: Our study tried to find a relationship between baseline FEF25-75% and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and whether a greater FEF25-75% impairment may be a marker of a more severe hyperresponsiveness in subjects with normal FEV1 and FEV1/FVC and suggestive asthma symptoms. Besides, we tried to asses a FEF25-75% cut-off value to identify hyp....

Objectives: In this multicenter survey, we assessed the impact of sensitization to cypress in atopic patients in Italy and determined whether cypress pollen concentration changed over time. Methods: Allergists were required to collect the results of 100-200 consecutive skin prick tests (SPTs) performed during 2012. Seasonal symptoms were also recor....

PMID: 24488996 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00099513 No abstract available full article

Objective: The aim of this review was to understand whether FEV1 decline measured during the follow-up of asthmatic subjects (FEV1 variation between two different measurements at a distance of at least 5 years) may have a role in their management. Methods: Articles, commentaries and reviews relating to the topic were searched in PubMed. Results: Pa....

Background: Literature is still arguing about a possible relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and body mass index (BMI). This study aimed at evaluating the influence of BMI on AHR and pulmonary function in children and adolescents that performed a methacholine test for suggestive asthma symptoms. Methods: 799 consecutive children/a....

No abstract availableComment on Epidemiology of cypress pollen allergy in Montpellier.Caimmi D, Raschetti R, Pons P, Dhivert-Donnadieu H, Bousquet PJ, Bousquet J, Demoly P.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2012;22(4):280-5.PMID: 22812197full article

Background: The diagnostic and staging approach for the mediastinal lymphadenopathies, with or whithout pulmonary lesions endoscopically visible, is based on transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) during fiberoptic bronchoscopy and on mediastinoscopy. One important factor impacting on TBNA sensitivity is the rapid on site cytological examination (....

 Background: Epidemiological data indicate that obesity is a risk factor for asthma, but scientific literature is still debating the association between changes in body mass index (BMI) and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Methods: This study aimed at evaluating the influence of BMI on AHR, in outpatients with symptoms suggestive of asthma.4,....

 Objective: This study tried to evaluate whether a methacholine test may be influenced by the seasons. Methods: We considered 4826 consecutive subjects with normal spirometry (50.53% males; age: 35.1±16.2; forced expiratory volume in one second: 99.5±13.0%) who underwent a methacholine test for suspected asthma symptoms between 2000 and 2010. ....

Introduction: Statins are at the forefront of strategies to manage dyslipidemia, although they are not always well tolerated. At 6-7 months after the drug was supplied, discontinuation rates averaged 30%. Alternate agents to statins have been studied. Some nutraceuticals demonstrated an efficacy in reducing cholesterol concentrations. However, ther....