NEJM â Collection Updates for Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Variants of Associated with Asthma in Children

Thu, 07Â JanÂ 2010 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Asthma is a complex disease that has genetic and environmental causes. The genetic factors associated with susceptibility to asthma remain largely unknown.

Methods: We carried out a genomewide association study...

CORRESPONDENCE: Asthma Induced by a Thermal Printer

Thu, 28Â MayÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

To the Editor: Point-of-sale terminals are devices used worldwide for credit-card or debit-card transactions or to print a variety of coupons. These machines print receipts on thermal paper covered with...

CLINICAL PRACTICE: Asthma in Pregnancy

Michael Schatz, M.D., and Mitchell P. Dombrowski, M.D. — Thu, 30Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

A 23-year-old nonsmoking woman (gravida 1, para 0) presents at 11 weeks' gestation with an 8-year history of asthma, which has worsened over the past year. She reports asthma symptoms...

BOOK REVIEW:

Thu, 23Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

In this book, Ian Whitmarsh interprets data from an investigation of the genetics of asthma in Barbados. It has been shown that asthma is influenced by many factors, both genetic...

EDITORIAL: Risks of Long-Acting Beta-Agonists in Achieving Asthma Control

Jeffrey M. Drazen, M.D., and Paul M. O'Byrne, M.B. — Thu, 16Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

In early December 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held an unusual joint meeting of the PulmonaryâAllergy Drugs Advisory Committee, the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee, and...

PERSPECTIVE: Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Inhaled Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â The Influence of Values

Thu, 16Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

In December 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a joint meeting of the Pediatric Advisory Committee, the PulmonaryâAllergy Drugs Advisory Committee, and the Drug Safety and Risk Management...

EDITORIAL: Silent Acid Reflux and Asthma Control

Koichiro Asano, M.D., and Hidekazu Suzuki, M.D., Ph.D. — Thu, 09Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

There are some patients with asthma who have a good response to standard therapy, but there are always some whose symptoms are not well controlled despite treatment with standard asthma...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Efficacy of Esomeprazole for Treatment of Poorly Controlled Asthma

The American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers — Thu, 09Â AprÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux is common among patients with asthma but often causes mild or no symptoms. It is not known whether treatment of gastroesophageal reflux with proton-pump inhibitors in patients...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mepolizumab for Prednisone-Dependent Asthma with Sputum Eosinophilia

Thu, 05Â MarÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Eosinophilic inflammation, which may be a consequence of interleukin-5 action, is a characteristic feature of some forms of asthma. However, in three previous clinical trials involving patients with asthma,...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mepolizumab and Exacerbations of Refractory Eosinophilic Asthma

Thu, 05Â MarÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Exacerbations of asthma are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and with considerable use of health care resources. Preventing exacerbations remains an important goal of therapy. There is evidence...

EDITORIAL: Eosinophils in Asthma â Closing the Loop or Opening the Door?

Sally E. Wenzel, M.D. — Thu, 05Â MarÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

Although the origin of the concept that eosinophils are critical to asthma pathobiology remains controversial, there is consensus that Paul Ehrlich first identified a bilobed nucleated cell as an âeosinâ-ophil...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Asthma

Christopher H. Fanta, M.D. — Thu, 05Â MarÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

According to survey data for which the diagnosis of asthma was based on a physician's assessment, it is estimated that approximately 7% of Americans have current asthma.12 The disease affects...

BOOK REVIEW:

Thu, 01Â JanÂ 2009 00:00:00 -05:00

Millions of children worldwide suffer from allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or food allergy. The diagnosis and treatment of these children require special attention to the...

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Virus Infection, Asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ratko DjukanoviÄ, M.D., and Stephan D. Gadola, M.D. — Thu, 06Â NovÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

Both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways. This inflammation is accompanied by increased mucus production and an excessive propensity of the...

EDITORIAL: 17q21 Variants and Asthma â Questions and Answers

John W. Holloway, Ph.D., and Gerard H. Koppelman, M.D., Ph.D. — Thu, 06Â NovÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

It has long been established that many common diseases are the result of interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure. The identification of genetic variants that underlie susceptibility to diseases...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of 17q21 Variants and Smoking Exposure in Early-Onset Asthma

Thu, 06Â NovÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: A genomewide association study has shown an association between variants at chromosome 17q21 and an increased risk of asthma. To elucidate the relationship between this locus and disease, we...

IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE: Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

Ting-hsu Chen, M.D. and Helen Hollingsworth, M.D. — Thu, 07Â AugÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

A 26-year-old man who smoked and had a long history of poorly controlled asthma and severe environmental allergies was admitted for an exacerbation of asthma. He reported no recent hospitalizations...

EDITORIAL: Asthma and Chitinases

Miriam F. Moffatt, D.Phil., and William O.C.M. Cookson, M.D., D.Phil. — Thu, 17Â AprÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous syndrome in which the airway mucosa is abnormal and inflamed. Although its causes are unknown, there are strong clues: it runs in families, and...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Variation in on Serum YKL-40 Level, Risk of Asthma, and Lung Function

Thu, 17Â AprÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 is involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling. We recently showed that serum YKL-40 levels were elevated in patients with asthma and were correlated with severity,...

PERSPECTIVE: Taking Your Child's Breath Away â The Extension of Asthma's Global Reach

Thu, 20Â MarÂ 2008 00:00:00 -05:00

On a clear summer day, as Michael runs through the fields playing with his friends, the view from his farm is spectacular. You can look past the hills where his...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Diesel Traffic in Persons with Asthma

Thu, 06Â DecÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Air pollution from road traffic is a serious health hazard, and people with preexisting respiratory disease may be at increased risk. We investigated the effects of short-term exposure to...

EDITORIAL: Exoskeletons and Exhalation

Burton F. Dickey, M.D. — Thu, 15Â NovÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Chitin â the second-most abundant biologic polymer, after cellulose â is a tough, cross-linked polysaccharide (see Figure 1) found in the exoskeleton of insects and crustaceans, the cell wall of...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Chitinase-like Protein in the Lung and Circulation of Patients with Severe Asthma

Thu, 15Â NovÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The evolutionarily conserved 18-glycosyl-hydrolase family contains true chitinases and chitinase-like proteins that lack enzymatic activity. Acidic mammalian chitinase has recently been associated with animal models of asthma. The related...

EDITORIAL: Of Attraction and Rejection â Asthma and the Microbial World

Erika von Mutius, M.D., M.Sc. — Thu, 11Â OctÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

In the first half of the past century, it was thought that asthma was precipitated or prolonged by infection and that infection with several bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Childhood Asthma after Bacterial Colonization of the Airway in Neonates

Thu, 11Â OctÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Pathological features of the airway in young children with severe recurrent wheeze suggest an association between bacterial colonization and the initiating events of early asthma. We conducted a study...

CLINICAL DECISIONS: Mild Persistent Asthma â Polling Results

Laura E. Fredenburgh, M.D., Edward W. Campion, M.D., and Jeffrey M. Drazen, M.D. — Thu, 12Â JulÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

In mid-May, we introduced Clinical Decisions â a new interactive feature designed to help us understand how our readers would manage a given clinical case. Our opening case1 involved how...

CLINICAL DECISIONS: Treatment of Mild Persistent Asthma

Thu, 17Â MayÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

You are consulted by a 30-year-old white woman, who holds an administrative position in an office and has a lifelong history of asthma, about the treatment of her condition. In...

CASE RECORDS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: Case 15-2007 â A 20-Year-Old Woman with Asthma and Cardiorespiratory Arrest

Thu, 17Â MayÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

A 20-year-old woman with asthma was taken to the emergency room of another hospital because of cardiorespiratory arrest. The patient had had severe asthma since childhood. She was born after...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Rescue Use of Beclomethasone and Albuterol in a Single Inhaler for Mild Asthma

Thu, 17Â MayÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Treatment guidelines recommend the regular use of inhaled corticosteroids for patients with mild persistent asthma. We investigated whether the symptom-driven use of a combination of beclomethasone dipropionate and albuterol...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Randomized Comparison of Strategies for Reducing Treatment in Mild Persistent Asthma

The American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers — Thu, 17Â MayÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Treatment guidelines recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma who have persistent symptoms and the âstepping downâ of therapy to the minimum needed to maintain control...

EDITORIAL: Natural Killer T Cells in Asthma â Toward Increased Understanding

Ling-Pei Ho, M.D., Ph.D. — Thu, 05Â AprÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

This issue of the Journal contains the second report within about a year on the presence of natural killer T cells in the lungs of patients with asthma. The two...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Invariant Natural Killer T Cells in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Thu, 05Â AprÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The number of type 2 helper CD4+ T cells is increased in the airways of persons with asthma. Whether the majority of these cells are class II major-histocompatibility-complexârestricted cells...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Withdrawal of Albuterol Inhalers Containing Chlorofluorocarbon Propellants

Leslie Hendeles, Pharm.D., Gene L. Colice, M.D., and Robert J. Meyer, M.D. — Thu, 29Â MarÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Inhaled short-acting Î²2-agonists are indicated for short-term relief of symptoms related to bronchospasm in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Albuterol (called salbutamol outside the United States)...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Asthma Control during the Year after Bronchial Thermoplasty

Thu, 29Â MarÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Bronchial thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic procedure to reduce the mass of airway smooth muscle and attenuate bronchoconstriction. We examined the effect of bronchial thermoplasty on the control of moderate...

SPECIAL ARTICLE: Improving the Management of Chronic Disease at Community Health Centers

Thu, 01Â MarÂ 2007 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The Health Disparities Collaboratives of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) were designed to improve care in community health centers, where many patients from ethnic and racial minority...

REVIEW ARTICLE: The Asthma Epidemic

Waltraud Eder, M.D., Markus J. Ege, M.D., M.P.H., and Erika von Mutius, M.D. — Thu, 23Â NovÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

The prevalence and incidence of asthma are very high in the Western world. There is widespread concern that the prevalence of asthma is still rising in developed countries, but the...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Reduced Lung Function at Birth and the Risk of Asthma at 10 Years of Age

Thu, 19Â OctÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Reduced lung function in early infancy has been associated with later obstructive airway diseases. We assessed whether reduced lung function shortly after birth predicts asthma 10 years later.

Methods: We...

CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS: Omalizumab for Asthma

Robert C. Strunk, M.D., and Gordon R. Bloomberg, M.D. — Thu, 22Â JunÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

A 16-year-old boy with a 15-year history of asthma from the age of one year and two visits to the emergency department in the past year presents for evaluation. He...

EDITORIAL: Inhaled Corticosteroids for Young Children with Wheezing

Diane R. Gold, M.D., M.P.H., and Anne L. Fuhlbrigge, M.D. — Thu, 11Â MayÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

In the Childhood Asthma Management Program study of school-aged children with established mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, twice-daily therapy with inhaled corticosteroids controlled symptoms of asthma but slightly reduced height growth and...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Intermittent Inhaled Corticosteroids in Infants with Episodic Wheezing

Thu, 11Â MayÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: We hypothesized that asthma is preceded by a stage of recurrent episodes of wheezing during the first years of life and that inhaled corticosteroid therapy during symptomatic episodes in...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Long-Term Inhaled Corticosteroids in Preschool Children at High Risk for Asthma

Thu, 11Â MayÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: It is unknown whether inhaled corticosteroids can modify the subsequent development of asthma in preschool children at high risk for asthma.

Methods: We randomly assigned 285 participants two or three...

EDITORIAL: Treating Acute Asthma with Antibiotics â Not Quite Yet

FrÃ©dÃ©ric F. Little, M.D. — Thu, 13Â AprÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Although the root cause of asthma is not known, treatments have been developed that target facets of the underlying pathologic abnormalities of asthma: airway inflammation, hypersecretion of mucus, and airway...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Effect of Telithromycin in Acute Exacerbations of Asthma

Thu, 13Â AprÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of telithromycin in patients with acute exacerbations of asthma.

Methods: A total of 278 adults with diagnosed asthma were...

EDITORIAL: Natural Killer T Cells and Asthma

A. Barry Kay, M.D., Ph.D. — Thu, 16Â MarÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Invariant natural killer T cells, originally characterized in mice and more recently defined in humans, are a unique, conserved T-cell sublineage possessing a rearrangement of the T-cell antigen receptor (VÎ±14JÎ±18...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: CD4+ Invariant T-CellâReceptor+ Natural Killer T Cells in Bronchial Asthma

Thu, 16Â MarÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Bronchial asthma is associated with an inflammatory process that is characterized by the presence in the airways of large numbers of CD4+ T cells producing interleukin-4 and interleukin-13. However,...

EDITORIAL: Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor Î± for Refractory Asthma

Serpil C. Erzurum, M.D. — Thu, 16Â FebÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), originally discovered and named on the basis of its tumor regression activity, is an important cytokine that regulates the pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic inflammatory diseases.12 The...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Evidence of a Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Î± in Refractory Asthma

Thu, 16Â FebÂ 2006 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The development of tumor necrosis factor Î± (TNF-Î±) antagonists has made it feasible to investigate the role of this cytokine in refractory asthma.

Methods: We measured markers of TNF-Î± activity...

PERSPECTIVE: Safety of Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â An Urgent Need to Clear the Air

Thu, 22Â DecÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Eleven years after the first long-acting beta-agonist, salmeterol, was approved for sale in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stern public health advisory alerting...

EDITORIAL: Targeting Biologic Markers in Asthma â Is Exhaled Nitric Oxide the Bull's-Eye?

Aaron Deykin, M.D. — Thu, 26Â MayÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Clinicians caring for patients with asthma need help. Asthma affects approximately 27 million persons in the United States. Despite the availability of effective therapies, asthma remains a source of significant...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Use of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements to Guide Treatment in Chronic Asthma

Thu, 26Â MayÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: International guidelines for the treatment of asthma recommend adjusting the dose of inhaled corticosteroids on the basis of symptoms, bronchodilator requirements, and the results of pulmonary-function tests. Measurements of...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Asthma as a Risk Factor for Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Thu, 19Â MayÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The risk of invasive pneumococcal disease among persons with asthma is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a nested caseâcontrol study to examine the association between asthma and invasive pneumococcal disease. The...

IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE: Airway Dilatation after Inhalation of a Beta-Agonist

Gen Tamura, M.D. and Yuji Suda, M.D. — Thu, 14Â AprÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

A 37-year-old woman with a 25-year history of asthma that had been managed with inhaled budesonide and albuterol (salbutamol) as needed underwent high-resolution multislice helical computed tomographic scanning. Thirty minutes...

EDITORIAL: Does Mild Persistent Asthma Require Regular Treatment?

Leonardo M. Fabbri, M.D. — Thu, 14Â AprÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Current national1 and international2 guidelines recommend regularly scheduled treatment with inhaled corticosteroids for patients with mild persistent asthma. This recommendation is supported by solid evidence that such treatment achieves and...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Daily versus As-Needed Corticosteroids for Mild Persistent Asthma

Thu, 14Â AprÂ 2005 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Although guidelines recommend daily therapy for patients with mild persistent asthma, prescription patterns suggest that most such patients use these so-called controller therapies intermittently. In patients with mild persistent...

EDITORIAL: Making Sense of Asthma Genes

William Cookson, M.D., D.Phil., and Miriam Moffatt, D.Phil. — Thu, 21Â OctÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

There are two causes of asthma â the environment and genetic variants. Each cause accounts for about 50 percent of the risk of the disease. The power of the public...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Role of Prostanoid DP Receptor Variants in Susceptibility to Asthma

Thu, 21Â OctÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Previous genetic studies have associated the region of the human genome (14q22.1) containing the gene for the prostanoid DP receptor (PTGDR) with asthma. A study of a mouse model...

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Chitin Checking â Novel Insights into Asthma

Marsha Wills-Karp, Ph.D., and Christopher L. Karp, M.D. — Thu, 30Â SepÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Westernized countries are in the midst of an asthma epidemic. Despite much effort, therapeutic advances have not kept pace with the dramatic increases in the incidence, prevalence, and severity of...

EDITORIAL: Allergen Avoidance to Reduce Asthma-Related Morbidity

Albert L. Sheffer, M.D. — Thu, 09Â SepÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Central to the reduction of the severity of allergic disease is a decrease in â and preferably the removal of â the offending environmental allergen. Such allergen avoidance is particularly...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Results of a Home-Based Environmental Intervention among Urban Children with Asthma

Thu, 09Â SepÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Children with asthma who live in the inner city are exposed to multiple indoor allergens and environmental tobacco smoke in their homes. Reductions in these triggers of asthma have...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Dysfunctional Interaction of C/EBPÎ± and the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Asthmatic Bronchial Smooth-Muscle Cells

Thu, 05Â AugÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Increased proliferation of bronchial smooth-muscle cells may lead to increased muscle mass in the airways of patients with asthma. The antiproliferative effect of glucocorticoids in bronchial smooth-muscle cells in...

PERSPECTIVE: Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma â Not Just More of the Same

Stephanie A. Shore, Ph.D. — Thu, 05Â AugÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Airway smooth-muscle mass is increased in patients with asthma. This increase in muscle mass is quite marked in lung sections from patients who have died of asthma, but bronchial-biopsy studies...

PERSPECTIVE: From Asthma to Atherosclerosis â 5-Lipoxygenase, Leukotrienes, and Inflammation

Raffaele De Caterina, M.D., Ph.D., and Antonella Zampolli, Ph.D. — Thu, 01Â JanÂ 2004 00:00:00 -05:00

Eicosanoids are lipid mediators of inflammation; they include a variety of compounds (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, hydroxy- and epoxy-fatty acids, lipoxins, and isoprostanes) that are derived from the ubiquitous 20-carbon atom...

EDITORIAL: Toward Asthma Prevention â Does All That Really Matters Happen before We Learn to Read?

Fernando D. Martinez, M.D. — Thu, 09Â OctÂ 2003 00:00:00 -05:00

Patients with asthma and their caregivers are currently faced with a remarkable paradox. Considerable progress has been made during the past 20 years in the pharmacotherapy, educational tools, and environmental...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Longitudinal, Population-Based, Cohort Study of Childhood Asthma Followed to Adulthood

Thu, 09Â OctÂ 2003 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The outcome of childhood asthma in adults has been described in high-risk cohorts, but few population-based studies have reported the risk factors for persistence and relapse.

Methods: We assessed children...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Genomics as a Probe for Disease Biology

Wylie Burke, M.D., Ph.D. — Thu, 04Â SepÂ 2003 00:00:00 -05:00

Although our understanding of pathology has grown rapidly in recent decades, the underlying mechanisms of many diseases remain obscure. Genomic research offers a new opportunity for determining how diseases occur,...

EDITORIAL: Leukotriene Receptors and Aspirin Sensitivity

Thu, 07Â NovÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

About 15 million people in the United States have asthma. In a small percentage of them, variably estimated at between 3 percent and 10 percent, acute, severe asthma accompanied by...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Leukotriene-Receptor Expression on Nasal Mucosal Inflammatory Cells in Aspirin-Sensitive Rhinosinusitis

Thu, 07Â NovÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Patients with asthma who have aspirin sensitivity have greater cysteinyl leukotriene production and greater airway hyperresponsiveness to the effects of inhaled cysteinyl leukotrienes than their aspirin-tolerant counterparts. We hypothesized...

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Surfaces as an Asthma Gene

Thu, 19Â SepÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

Asthma is thought to result from complex interactions between genes and the environment. Although allergens and endotoxins appear to be environmental modifiers of asthma,12 the genes involved have been harder...

EDITORIAL: Eat Dirt â The Hygiene Hypothesis and Allergic Diseases

Thu, 19Â SepÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

There has been an epidemic of both autoimmune diseases (in which the immune response is dominated by type 1 helper T [Th1] cells, such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease,...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Environmental Exposure to Endotoxin and Its Relation to Asthma in School-Age Children

Thu, 19Â SepÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: In early life, the innate immune system can recognize both viable and nonviable parts of microorganisms. Immune activation may direct the immune response, thus conferring tolerance to allergens such...

EDITORIAL: The Role of Mast Cells in the Pathophysiology of Asthma

Thu, 30Â MayÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

The mast cell has long been considered to be of paramount importance in the pathophysiology of asthma. Its key role in driving the IgE-mediated allergic reaction and thus the early...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mast-Cell Infiltration of Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma

Thu, 30Â MayÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis are characterized by similar inflammatory infiltrates in the submucosa of the lower airway. However, eosinophilic bronchitis differs from asthma in that there is no variable...

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: A New Element in the Mechanism of Asthma

Thu, 14Â MarÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

The telltale wheeze of asthma is the sound of an ill wind blowing through easily irritated, narrowed, and thickened airways. Underlying these changes is bronchial inflammation in which type 2...

CLINICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING: More Than Your Average Wheeze

Carey Conley Thomson, M.D., Andrew M. Tager, M.D., and Peter F. Weller, M.D. — Thu, 07Â FebÂ 2002 00:00:00 -05:00

A 59-year-old man presented to a pulmonary clinic with a two-month history of rapidly progressive shortness of breath. At the onset of his dyspnea, prednisone (60 mg per day) relieved...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Safety of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Adults and Children with Asthma

The American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers — Thu, 22Â NovÂ 2001 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Influenza causes substantial morbidity in adults and children with asthma, and vaccination can prevent influenza and its complications. However, there is concern that vaccination may cause exacerbations of asthma.

Methods:...

CLINICAL PRACTICE: Mild Asthma

Edward T. Naureckas, M.D., and Julian Solway, M.D. — Thu, 25Â OctÂ 2001 00:00:00 -05:00

A 26-year-old graduate student with an eight-year history of asthma has shortness of breath and cough an average of three times a week and nighttime wheezing about twice a month....

EDITORIAL: Bone Loss Accompanying Medical Therapies

Thu, 27Â SepÂ 2001 00:00:00 -05:00

In this issue of the Journal, two groups of investigators report that the treatment of a primary medical condition resulted in accelerated bone loss.12 In one study, by Smith et...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of Inhaled Glucocorticoids on Bone Density in Premenopausal Women

Thu, 27Â SepÂ 2001 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Inhaled glucocorticoids are the most commonly used medications for the long-term treatment of patients with asthma. Whether long-term therapy with inhaled glucocorticoids reduces bone mass, as oral glucocorticoid therapy...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Asthma

William W. Busse, M.D., and Robert F. Lemanske, Jr., M.D. — Thu, 01Â FebÂ 2001 00:00:00 -05:00

Asthma is a complex syndrome with many clinical phenotypes in both adults and children. Its major characteristics include a variable degree of airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. For...

EDITORIAL: Asthma, Steroids, and Growth

Thu, 12Â OctÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Long-term administration of systemic corticosteroids is a cause of impaired growth.1 Trials comparing inhaled corticosteroid preparations with other treatment regimens in nearly 600 children with asthma found that inhaled beclomethasone...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Long-Term Treatment with Inhaled Budesonide on Adult Height in Children with Asthma

Lone Agertoft, M.D., and SÃ¸ren Pedersen, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci. — Thu, 12Â OctÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Short-term studies have shown that inhaled corticosteroids may reduce the growth of children with asthma. However, the effect of long-term treatment on adult height is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Long-Term Effects of Budesonide or Nedocromil in Children with Asthma

The Childhood Asthma Management Program Research Group — Thu, 12Â OctÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Antiinflammatory therapies, such as inhaled corticosteroids or nedocromil, are recommended for children with asthma, although there is limited information on their long-term use.

Methods: We randomly assigned 1041 children from...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Comparison of Inhaled Fluticasone and Oral Prednisone for Children with Severe Acute Asthma

Thu, 07Â SepÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of children with asthma. It is uncertain how inhaled corticosteroids compare with oral corticosteroids in the management of severe acute disease.

Methods: We...

EDITORIAL: Day Care, Siblings, and Asthma â Please, Sneeze on My Child

Thu, 24Â AugÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Parents generally agree that children who attend day care or who have older siblings have more frequent infections. They may be surprised to learn, however, that this tendency may protect...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Siblings, Day-Care Attendance, and the Risk of Asthma and Wheezing during Childhood

Thu, 24Â AugÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Young children with older siblings and those who attend day care are at increased risk for infections, which in turn may protect against the development of allergic diseases, including...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Low-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroids and the Prevention of Death from Asthma

Thu, 03Â AugÂ 2000 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Although inhaled corticosteroids are effective for the treatment of asthma, it is uncertain whether their use can prevent death from asthma.

Methods: We used the Saskatchewan Health data bases to...

EDITORIAL: Anti-IgE Antibody Therapy for Asthma

Thu, 23Â DecÂ 1999 00:00:00 -05:00

Over the past 10 years there have been striking improvements in the treatment of asthma, largely as a result of the earlier and more widespread use of inhaled corticosteroids. The...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Treatment of Allergic Asthma with Monoclonal Anti-IgE Antibody

Thu, 23Â DecÂ 1999 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Immune responses mediated by IgE are important in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. A recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (rhuMAb-E25) forms complexes with free IgE and blocks its interaction with...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Long-Term Clinical Efficacy of Grass-Pollen Immunotherapy

Thu, 12Â AugÂ 1999 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Pollen immunotherapy is effective in selected patients with IgE-mediated seasonal allergic rhinitis, although it is questionable whether there is long-term benefit after the discontinuation of treatment.

Methods: We conducted a...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Treatment of Asthma with Drugs Modifying the Leukotriene Pathway

Jeffrey M. Drazen, M.D., Elliot Israel, M.D., and Paul M. O'Byrne, M.B. — Thu, 21Â JanÂ 1999 00:00:00 -05:00

In 1979 and 1980, the chemical structures of the material previously known as slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis were elucidated as 5(S)- hydroxy- 6(R)-glutathionyl- 7,9-trans-11,14- cis - eico- satetraenoic acid1 and...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A 15-Year Follow-up Study of Ventilatory Function in Adults with Asthma

Thu, 22Â OctÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Although the prevalence of asthma and morbidity related to asthma are increasing, little is known about the natural history of lung function in adults with this disease.

Methods: We used...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Nebulized Ipratropium on the Hospitalization Rates of Children with Asthma

Thu, 08Â OctÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Anticholinergic medications such as ipratropium improve the pulmonary function of patients with acute exacerbations of asthma, but their effect on hospitalization rates is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind,...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Comparison of Active and Simulated Chiropractic Manipulation as Adjunctive Treatment for Childhood Asthma

Thu, 08Â OctÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Chiropractic spinal manipulation has been reported to be of benefit in nonmusculoskeletal conditions, including asthma.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulation for children with mild...

EDITORIAL: New Treatments for Exercise-Induced Asthma

Thu, 16Â JulÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Not long ago, many physicians thought exercise-induced asthma was a variant form of the disease. Now it is apparent that nearly all people with asthma have respiratory symptoms at least...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Montelukast, a Leukotriene-Receptor Antagonist, for the Treatment of Mild Asthma and Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

Thu, 16Â JulÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Patients with mild asthma frequently have only exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, a symptom of inadequate control of asthma. We evaluated the ability of montelukast, a leukotriene-receptor antagonist, to protect such patients...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Long-Term Salmeterol Treatment on Exercise-Induced Asthma

Thu, 16Â JulÂ 1998 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: With long-term administration of salmeterol, the extent of protection afforded by the drug against experimental precipitants of asthma such as methacholine and adenosine may decrease. Whether this effect extends...

EDITORIAL: Choosing Therapy for Childhood Asthma

Thu, 04Â DecÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

For over a century asthma has been recognized as a disorder in which the airways are irritable and narrow too easily and too much in response to a variety of...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Comparison of Beclomethasone, Salmeterol, and Placebo in Children with Asthma

Thu, 04Â DecÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: An inhaled glucocorticoid is currently the medication of choice for long-term control of persistent asthma in children. The role of long-acting Î²2-adrenergicâreceptor agonists, such as salmeterol, needs to be...

EDITORIAL: Asthma Disease Management

Thu, 13Â NovÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Asthma presents a difficult problem â despite effective therapy, many patients have frequent symptoms and hospitalizations. In the United States, the prevalence of asthma, associated death rates, and outpatient visits...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Comparison of Low-Dose Inhaled Budesonide plus Theophylline and High-Dose Inhaled Budesonide for Moderate Asthma

Thu, 13Â NovÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Inhaled glucocorticoids and oral theophylline are widely used to treat asthma. We compared the benefits of adding theophylline to inhaled glucocorticoid with those of doubling the dose of inhaled...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Inhaled Formoterol and Budesonide on Exacerbations of Asthma

Thu, 13Â NovÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The role of long-acting, inhaled Î²2-agonists in treating asthma is uncertain. In a double-blind study, we evaluated the effects of adding inhaled formoterol to both lower and higher doses...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids and the Risk of Cataracts

Thu, 03Â JulÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: The use of systemic corticosteroids is a risk factor for the development of posterior subcapsular cataracts, but the association between inhaled corticosteroids and cataracts is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a...

EDITORIAL: Cataracts and Inhaled Corticosteroids

Thu, 03Â JulÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

In this issue of the Journal, Cumming et al. report an association between the use of inhaled corticosteroids and the development of posterior subcapsular and nuclear cataracts.1 Although this association...

EDITORIAL: Asthma and Indoor Exposure to Allergens

Thu, 08Â MayÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

The increase in the prevalence and severity of asthma over the past 35 years has been observed in perennial rather than seasonal disease and in many different countries. Asthma is...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Role of Cockroach Allergy and Exposure to Cockroach Allergen in Causing Morbidity among Inner-City Children with Asthma

Thu, 08Â MayÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: It has been hypothesized that asthma-related health problems are most severe among children in inner-city areas who are allergic to a specific allergen and also exposed to high levels...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Controlled Trial of Immunotherapy for Asthma in Allergic Children

Thu, 30Â JanÂ 1997 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Injections of allergens are widely prescribed for patients with asthma, but little is known about the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of multiple-allergen immunotherapy in...

EDITORIAL: Inhaled Î²-Agonists in the Treatment of Asthma

Thu, 19Â SepÂ 1996 00:00:00 -05:00

The introduction of selective, potent inhaled Î²2-agonists more than 30 years ago revolutionized the treatment of asthma. Until that time, nonselective sympathomimetic agents, such as ephedrine and epinephrine, which stimulate...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Comparison of Regularly Scheduled with As-Needed Use of Albuterol in Mild Asthma

Thu, 19Â SepÂ 1996 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Inhaled Î²-agonists are the most commonly used treatment for asthma, but data suggest that regularly scheduled use of these agents may have a deleterious effect on the control of...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Theophylline in Asthma

Miles Weinberger, M.D., and Leslie Hendeles, Pharm.D. — Thu, 23Â MayÂ 1996 00:00:00 -05:00

Theophylline has been a popular medication for asthma for over 50 years. However, the introduction of newer pharmacologic agents, concern about the toxicity of theophylline, and recommendations in widely disseminated...

EDITORIAL: Is Immunotherapy for Asthma Worthwhile?

Thu, 22Â FebÂ 1996 00:00:00 -05:00

Although allergen immunotherapy has been used to treat allergic asthma for over 70 years, its role remains controversial. The consensus report on diagnosis and management of asthma of the National...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Ragweed Immunotherapy in Adult Asthma

Thu, 22Â FebÂ 1996 00:00:00 -05:00

Background: Although allergen immunotherapy is effective for allergic rhinitis, its role in treating asthma is unclear.

Methods: We examined the efficacy of immunotherapy for asthma exacerbated by seasonal ragweed exposure. During...

NEJM â Collection Updates for Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Variants of Associated with Asthma in Children

CORRESPONDENCE: Asthma Induced by a Thermal Printer

CLINICAL PRACTICE: Asthma in Pregnancy

BOOK REVIEW:

EDITORIAL: Risks of Long-Acting Beta-Agonists in Achieving Asthma Control

PERSPECTIVE: Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Inhaled Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â The Influence of Values

EDITORIAL: Silent Acid Reflux and Asthma Control

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Efficacy of Esomeprazole for Treatment of Poorly Controlled Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mepolizumab for Prednisone-Dependent Asthma with Sputum Eosinophilia

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mepolizumab and Exacerbations of Refractory Eosinophilic Asthma

EDITORIAL: Eosinophils in Asthma â Closing the Loop or Opening the Door?

REVIEW ARTICLE: Asthma

BOOK REVIEW:

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Virus Infection, Asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

EDITORIAL: 17q21 Variants and Asthma â Questions and Answers

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of 17q21 Variants and Smoking Exposure in Early-Onset Asthma

IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE: Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

EDITORIAL: Asthma and Chitinases

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of Variation in on Serum YKL-40 Level, Risk of Asthma, and Lung Function

PERSPECTIVE: Taking Your Child's Breath Away â The Extension of Asthma's Global Reach

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Diesel Traffic in Persons with Asthma

EDITORIAL: Exoskeletons and Exhalation

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Chitinase-like Protein in the Lung and Circulation of Patients with Severe Asthma

EDITORIAL: Of Attraction and Rejection â Asthma and the Microbial World

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Childhood Asthma after Bacterial Colonization of the Airway in Neonates

CLINICAL DECISIONS: Mild Persistent Asthma â Polling Results

CLINICAL DECISIONS: Treatment of Mild Persistent Asthma

CASE RECORDS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: Case 15-2007 â A 20-Year-Old Woman with Asthma and Cardiorespiratory Arrest

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Rescue Use of Beclomethasone and Albuterol in a Single Inhaler for Mild Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Randomized Comparison of Strategies for Reducing Treatment in Mild Persistent Asthma

EDITORIAL: Natural Killer T Cells in Asthma â Toward Increased Understanding

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Invariant Natural Killer T Cells in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

REVIEW ARTICLE: Withdrawal of Albuterol Inhalers Containing Chlorofluorocarbon Propellants

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Asthma Control during the Year after Bronchial Thermoplasty

SPECIAL ARTICLE: Improving the Management of Chronic Disease at Community Health Centers

REVIEW ARTICLE: The Asthma Epidemic

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Reduced Lung Function at Birth and the Risk of Asthma at 10 Years of Age

CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS: Omalizumab for Asthma

EDITORIAL: Inhaled Corticosteroids for Young Children with Wheezing

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Intermittent Inhaled Corticosteroids in Infants with Episodic Wheezing

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Long-Term Inhaled Corticosteroids in Preschool Children at High Risk for Asthma

EDITORIAL: Treating Acute Asthma with Antibiotics â Not Quite Yet

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Effect of Telithromycin in Acute Exacerbations of Asthma

EDITORIAL: Natural Killer T Cells and Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: CD4+ Invariant T-CellâReceptor+ Natural Killer T Cells in Bronchial Asthma

EDITORIAL: Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor Î± for Refractory Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Evidence of a Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Î± in Refractory Asthma

PERSPECTIVE: Safety of Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â An Urgent Need to Clear the Air

EDITORIAL: Targeting Biologic Markers in Asthma â Is Exhaled Nitric Oxide the Bull's-Eye?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Use of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements to Guide Treatment in Chronic Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Asthma as a Risk Factor for Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE: Airway Dilatation after Inhalation of a Beta-Agonist

EDITORIAL: Does Mild Persistent Asthma Require Regular Treatment?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Daily versus As-Needed Corticosteroids for Mild Persistent Asthma

EDITORIAL: Making Sense of Asthma Genes

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Role of Prostanoid DP Receptor Variants in Susceptibility to Asthma

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Chitin Checking â Novel Insights into Asthma

EDITORIAL: Allergen Avoidance to Reduce Asthma-Related Morbidity

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Results of a Home-Based Environmental Intervention among Urban Children with Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Dysfunctional Interaction of C/EBPÎ± and the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Asthmatic Bronchial Smooth-Muscle Cells

PERSPECTIVE: Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma â Not Just More of the Same

PERSPECTIVE: From Asthma to Atherosclerosis â 5-Lipoxygenase, Leukotrienes, and Inflammation

EDITORIAL: Toward Asthma Prevention â Does All That Really Matters Happen before We Learn to Read?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Longitudinal, Population-Based, Cohort Study of Childhood Asthma Followed to Adulthood

REVIEW ARTICLE: Genomics as a Probe for Disease Biology

EDITORIAL: Leukotriene Receptors and Aspirin Sensitivity

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Leukotriene-Receptor Expression on Nasal Mucosal Inflammatory Cells in Aspirin-Sensitive Rhinosinusitis

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Surfaces as an Asthma Gene

EDITORIAL: Eat Dirt â The Hygiene Hypothesis and Allergic Diseases

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Environmental Exposure to Endotoxin and Its Relation to Asthma in School-Age Children

EDITORIAL: The Role of Mast Cells in the Pathophysiology of Asthma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mast-Cell Infiltration of Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: A New Element in the Mechanism of Asthma

CLINICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING: More Than Your Average Wheeze

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Safety of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Adults and Children with Asthma

CLINICAL PRACTICE: Mild Asthma

EDITORIAL: Bone Loss Accompanying Medical Therapies

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of Inhaled Glucocorticoids on Bone Density in Premenopausal Women

REVIEW ARTICLE: Asthma

NEJM â Collection Updates for Asthma

PERSPECTIVE: Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Inhaled Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â The Influence of Values

EDITORIAL: Eosinophils in Asthma â Closing the Loop or Opening the Door?

EDITORIAL: 17q21 Variants and Asthma â Questions and Answers

PERSPECTIVE: Taking Your Child's Breath Away â The Extension of Asthma's Global Reach

EDITORIAL: Of Attraction and Rejection â Asthma and the Microbial World

CLINICAL DECISIONS: Mild Persistent Asthma â Polling Results

CASE RECORDS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: Case 15-2007 â A 20-Year-Old Woman with Asthma and Cardiorespiratory Arrest

EDITORIAL: Natural Killer T Cells in Asthma â Toward Increased Understanding

EDITORIAL: Treating Acute Asthma with Antibiotics â Not Quite Yet

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: CD4+ Invariant T-CellâReceptor+ Natural Killer T Cells in Bronchial Asthma

PERSPECTIVE: Safety of Long-Acting Beta-Agonists â An Urgent Need to Clear the Air

EDITORIAL: Targeting Biologic Markers in Asthma â Is Exhaled Nitric Oxide the Bull's-Eye?

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BASIC RESEARCH: Chitin Checking â Novel Insights into Asthma

PERSPECTIVE: Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma â Not Just More of the Same

PERSPECTIVE: From Asthma to Atherosclerosis â 5-Lipoxygenase, Leukotrienes, and Inflammation

EDITORIAL: Toward Asthma Prevention â Does All That Really Matters Happen before We Learn to Read?

EDITORIAL: Eat Dirt â The Hygiene Hypothesis and Allergic Diseases

EDITORIAL: Day Care, Siblings, and Asthma â Please, Sneeze on My Child