Comparative efficacy of levocetirizine, desloratadine, clemastine, kvifenadine and sekvifenadine on histamine prick test induced weal reaction, blood perfusion evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design study

Increased innate and adaptive immune responses in induced sputum of young smokers

Background and objectives: It is known that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development process is imperceptible and can be asymptomatic for 20 or more years. It is of great importance to diagnose early inflammatory changes that can lead to COPD in young asymptomatic cigarette smokers. The aim of our study was to analyze the cell spectrum of induced sputum (IS) of young cigarette smokers, with emphasis on T-regulatory cells. Materials and methods: A total of 20 healthy nonallergic smokers, 20 nonsmokers and 20 COPD patients were enrolled in the study. After lung function measurements were taken, we performed sputum induction and analyzed sputum cells. We evaluated the cell coun…

Breath testing as a method for detecting lung cancer

Early diagnosis of lung cancer is important due to high mortality in late stages of the disease. An ideal approach for population screening could be the breath analysis, due to its non-invasiveness, simplicity and cheapness. Using sensitive methods of analysis like gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in exhaled air of cancer patients were discovered some volatile organic compounds - possible candidates for cancer markers. However, these compounds were not specific for cancer cells. At the same time, integrative approaches used to analyze the exhaled breath have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity of this method for lung cancer diagnosis. Such integrative approaches include detect…

Decreased FOXP3 expression in small airways of smokers with COPD

CD4+CD25+ FOXP3-positive T-regulatory cells have an important role in controlling immune and inflammatory reactions. The present authors hypothesise that these cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to characterise the expression of FOXP3 in large and small airways of nonsmokers, smokers with normal lung function and COPD patients. A total of 19 nonsmokers, 20 smokers with normal lung function and 20 smokers with moderate COPD, undergoing lung resection for a solitary peripheral nonsmall cell carcinoma, were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate FOXP3 expression in large a…