Prevalence of atopy and allergic rhinitis in patients with adult non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Background/aim: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BR) is common in developing countries.Limited data are available regarding the impact of atopy, and no data are available regarding allergic rhinitis in patients with adult bronchiectasis.The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of atopy and allergic rhinitis in the clinical conditions of patients with BR. Materials and methods: The study enrolled 101 patients who were diagnosed with non-CF BR using high-resolution computed chest tomography. Allergic rhinitis (AR) was defined by skin prick test (SPT) positivity and the presence of any nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, and sneezing). Results: The mean age of patients was 48 ± 15 years (range 18­82); 55 (54.5%) patients were female. SPT positivity was detected in 37 (36.6%) cases. AR was detected in 32 (31.7%) patients with non-CF BR. AR was related to dyspnea (P = 0.04) and number of admissions to an emergency department in the previous year (P = 0.01). Forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity in patients with and without AR were different (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). AR was correlated with number of admissions to an emergency department in the last year (r = 0.417, P = 0.005). Conclusion: We concluded that atopy was detected in more than one-third of adult non-CF BR patients. This study demonstrated that non-CF BR patients might have AR; it might be important to be aware of nasal symptoms in non-CF BR patients.

Trace elements and oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: Many trace elements have activator or inhibitor roles in the antioxidative defense systems in diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In this study, we aimed to show the levels of trace elements with action in oxidative stress, and to show the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress, and the activity of paraoxonase (PON1) as an antioxidant in COPD and smokers. METHODS: We included 25 patients with COPD, and 20 healthy non-smokers in the study. We selected them from the hospitalized patients at the Hospital of Dicle University, Turkey, between April 2003 and January 2004. The clinical condition of the patients was stable. RESULTS: The serum copper (Cu) and MDA concentrations in COPD patients were higher than the control group. There were no differences in zinc (Zn) concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between COPD patients and the control group. We found lower serum PON1 activities in COPD patients compared with the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in Zn concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between smokers and non-smokers in COPD. There were statistically significant differences in Cu, MDA concentrations and serum PON1 activities between smokers and non-smokers in COPD. CONCLUSION: We could suggest that trace elements such as Cu, oxidants and antioxidants such as MDA and PON1 have roles in oxidative stress, and in COPD.

Does biomass exposure affect serum MDA levels in women?

It is believed that the inhalation of biomass fuel, a substance that is used for bread baking and heating in rural areas, is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary symptoms. The products of biomass are claimed to affect the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, which plays a significant role in such a disease COPD. In our study, the serum level of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was accepted as a marker of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, and it was measured by the thiobarbituric acid method. A total of 43 women living in the central and rural areas of Diyarbakir was chosen randomly for the study and they were divided into two groups. The first group, also called the study population, consisted of 28 women living in rural areas. The mean age of the sample was 43 yr (range 31-63 yr). All were healthy and nonsmokers. Among these women the mean duration of the exposure to biomass was 12 h/wk for 25 yr. The mean MDA level (+/-SD) was 3281 +/- 0.789 nmol/ml. The second group, the control population, consisted of 15 healthy women of age 42 yr (range 30-65 yr). They were again nonsmokers and healthy. These women were selected from the central Diyarbakir. The mean MDA level (+/-SD) was 1.474 +/- 0.630 nmol/ml. The difference between two populations were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we believe that the high level of serum MDA in women is a result of biomass exposure.