Asthma is a disease produced by chronic inflammation of the airways. The AMCase protein was not previously thought to be involved in asthma. It was known to digest chitin, which is found in the outer wall of insects and parasites, and was not thought to be involved in inflammation.

National Study Shows 82 Percent Of U.S. Homes Have Mouse Allergens

82 percent of U.S. homes were found to have mouse allergens. The findings by Cohn et al. appear in the June 2004 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Gene At Root Of Urban Air Pollution's Lung Effects

The new study adds to earlier work highlighting the importance of genetic factors in determining the lung's response to environmental toxins by pinpointing a key player in the process, said Duke pulmonologist John Hollingsworth II, M.D., lead author of the study.

Eating Some Types Of Fish During Pregnancy May Protect Baby From Future Asthma

The study found that children whose mothers ate fish sticks during pregnancy were twice as likely to develop asthma, whether or not their mothers had asthma themselves. “Fish sticks are deep-fried, and they contain omega-6 fatty acids, which encourage inflammation of the airways,” said study co-author Frank Gilliland, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “Oily fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which appear to be anti-inflammatory, and lead to the reduced potential for developing asthma and allergies.”

Indoor Mold, Building Dampness Linked To Respiratory Problems

"An exhaustive review of the scientific literature made it clear to us that it can be very hard to tease apart the health effects of exposure to mold from all the other factors that may be influencing health in the typical indoor environment," said committee chair Noreen Clark, dean, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. "That said, we were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Even though the available evidence does not link mold or other factors associated with building moisture to all the serious health problems that some attribute to them, excessive indoor dampness is a widespread problem that warrants action at the local, state, and national levels."

Air Pollution Especially Harmful To Lungs Of Obese Children

"Given the epidemic of obesity in children, it might be that we're developing a population that is more susceptible to air pollution," said lead researcher Heike Luttmann-Gibson, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. She and co-researcher Douglas Dockery, Sc.D. studied 611 Boston-area fourth- and fifth-graders who were participating in a study on short-term effects of air pollution.

Researchers Discover Cold Virus Can 'Hit And Hide'

The research, published in this month's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, was a joint project between Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, London and the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Germany.

Study Points To Possible Cause Of Asthma Exacerbations

Using cell models, the team specifically showed that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection increases the number of a type of receptor called Toll-4 on the airway cells. This Toll-4 receptor can provide a foothold for inhaled endotoxin, a naturally occurring environmental contaminant that comes from bacteria and is found in household dust, grain dust and objects such as pillows. The presence of receptors for endotoxin would lead to interaction between the epithelial cell and the endotoxin and potentially cause inflammation. The study appeared in the December 26, 2003, issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Ingredient In Asthma Inhaler Drug May Counteract Inhaler Benefits, According To Pittsburgh Study

Albuterol, in a class of medications called beta-agonists, is combined with steroids and is used to prevent and treat breathing problems caused by asthma and other lung diseases. It relaxes and opens the muscle surrounding air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

UT Southwestern Researchers Identify Gene As Essential For Vascular Smooth Muscle Development

Smooth muscle cells are essential for the formation and function of the cardiovascular system, as well as many internal organs such as the stomach, intestine, bladder and uterus. Abnormalities in their growth can cause a wide range of human disorders, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, asthma and leiomyosarcoma (a fatal smooth-muscle cancer). The molecular mechanisms that control smooth muscle cell growth and differentiation, however, have been poorly understood.

Early Fevers Associated With Lower Allergy Risk Later In Childhood

"The prevalence of asthma and allergies has increased dramatically worldwide in recent years," says Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of NIAID. "This study provides evidence that diminished exposure to early immunological challenges could be one of the reasons for this trend."

House Dust Mite Project Aims To Reduce Asthma

It could lead to dramatic progress in preventing these conditions and reduce the estimated £700 million a year spent in the UK on treating them.The technique uses a computer model to assess how modifying a domestic environment can reduce numbers of house dust mites in beds, carpets and elsewhere.