Asthma Pathogenesis

Pathogenesis of Asthma: Theories of Asthma Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of allergenic asthma has been described in two pathogenetic theories (Fig 1). The direct theory is derived from the original observations of allergists that some patients with allergic rhinitis, especially children, have atopic bronchospasm as well. Specific IgE-antibody is fixed to airways, and bivalent linking with specific antigen-E (pollen, dander) results in initiation of the synthesis and secretion of mediators of inflammation by respiratory mast cells. Histamine and other mediators cause bronchoconstriction by

Tagged: airway smooth muscle , allergic rhinitis , Bronchoconstriction , bronchomotor , Calcium , cholinergic blockade
respiratory system

Pathogenesis of Asthma: Introduction

Come degree of bronchomotor tone resulting from tonic cholinergic parasympathetic activity is present in all normal individuals. Asthma is distinguished from the normal bronchoconstrictor response by the suddenness and severity with which bronchomotor tone increases. Life-threatening bron-choconstriction can occur in minutes; asthmatic bronchospasm may also remit spontaneously, sometimes for many years between “attacks.”

Tagged: airway smooth muscle , allergic rhinitis , Bronchoconstriction , bronchomotor , Calcium , cholinergic blockade
AsthmaInhalers

Self-Management Program of Asthma Treatment

We studied determinants of the intention to participate in an asthma self-management program using the ASE model. Overall, the results of our analysis showed that the ASE model is useful to understand determinants of participation. Including ASE on top of educational status and clinical variables raised the percentage of explained variance in participation behavior from 23 to 72%. Our results showed that higher-educated asthmatic patients were twice more likely to participate in the program than

Tagged: asthma program , participation , self-management , social cognitive determinants
Asthma

Airway Remodeling in Severe Asthma

Studies of the airways of patients who die from asthma demonstrate thickened airway walls due to increases in smooth muscle mass, infiltration with inflammatory cells, deposition of connective tissue, vascular changes, and mucous gland hyperplasia, a condition that is termed airway remodeling. Airway remodeling may be a feature of milder and even asymptomatic asthma. The remodeling of airways can result in the worsening of airway narrowing, airflow obstruction, and disease progression. Airway remodeling in asthma

Tagged: airway remodeling , asthma , chest CT scan

Targeting Improvements in Asthma Morbidity in Chicago: Quality Improvement

Supported by funding from The Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute, a series of Chicago-area collaboratives were formed to assess current asthma care patterns and to use social networking theory to improve quality and reduce unwanted variation in care of asthma in Chicago. Three collaboratives were conducted: (1) the Chicago Emergency Department Asthma Collaborative (CEDAC), a 1-year collaborative with 21 participating EDs; (2) the Chicago-Area Hospital Asthma Collaborative, a 6-month collaborative with 17 participating hospitals; and

Tagged: asthma care , Chicago Emergency Department Asthma Collaborative , Healthcare
Asthma

Outcomes of Asthma Self – Management Program

The structured interview was administered to 138 asthmatic patients. One hundred seven patients returned the questionnaires (response, 78%). Fifty-nine percent of this final group of patients expressed the desire to participate in the program (n = 63). Reasons for declining participation were, in order of importance as determined by the number of patients who offered the reason: lack of time, distance to the hospital, no symptoms and therefore no need to participate, and lack of

Tagged: asthma program , participation , self-management , social cognitive determinants
Asthma

Targeting Improvements in Asthma Morbidity in Chicago: Consortia

CAC The CAC was formed in January 1996 as a collaborative effort of the ALAMC and the American College of Chest Physicians. The vision for the CAC was to bring individuals and organizations together as a community health network in an effort to work collectively, interdependently, and in synergy to combat the Chicago asthma epidemic. Cofounders Sydney Parker, PhD, and the late Alan Shaw, ALAMC Deputy Executive Director, envisioned an integrated network of regional leaders

Tagged: asthma programs , Chest Physicians , health-care organizations , management
Asthma atacks

Understanding Participation in an Asthma Self – Management Program

Subjects and Procedure Inclusion criteria were as follows: outpatients coming to the hospital for pulmonary consultation, aged between 18 and 65 years, with asthma diagnosis made according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines at least 6 months before recruitment. Exclusion criteria were comorbidity (somatic and psychiatric diseases), non-Dutch speaking, brittle asthma, occupational asthma, and previous participation in an asthma education program. One of the researchers (V.L.) addressed the patients before their visit to the physician

Tagged: asthma program , participation , self-management , social cognitive determinants

Stydying of Occupational Asthma and Work-Exacerbated Asthma

The Research Ethics Board, the University Health Network, and the University of Toronto provided study approval. Patients with suspected WRA from a occupational lung disease clinic of a teaching hospital, with clinical visits from 2002 to 2004, and additional Ontario WSIB claimants from the same time period completed a questionnaire, which was slightly modified from that used in our pilot study. The questionnaire included age, education level, self-perception of work conditions, and physician factors related to diagnosis. It

Tagged: asthma , diagnosis , occupational asthma , socioeconomic factors , work-exacerbated asthma , work-related asthma , workplace
asthma

Occupational Asthma and Work – Exacerbated Asthma

Approximately 13% of the Canadian adult population has been reported to have asthma, and, based on the answers to a questionnaire, 36% of those with adult-onset asthma had possible or probable “occupational asthma”. Asthma caused by exposure to an agent specific to a workplace and not to stimuli outside the work environment, is termed occupational asthma (OA), more strictly distinguishing it from coincidental/concurrent asthma that is aggravated or exacerbated at work, referred to as work-exacerbated

Tagged: asthma , diagnosis , occupational asthma , socioeconomic factors , work-exacerbated asthma , work-related asthma , workplace