The CD14 (-159 C/T) SNP is associated with sCD14 levels and allergic asthma, but not with CD14 expression on monocytes.

LPS-ligation to CD14/TLR-4 on monocytes/macrophages triggers the production of IL-12-family cytokines. IL12/18 promote TH1-differentiation, counteracting the TH2-driven asthma. Therefore, CD14 modulation could alter the TH2-differentiation and should be taken into account when studying asthma. To analyse the alteration in CD14 levels and its association with CD14 (-159 C/T) SNP (rs2569190) in Caucasian adults with stable allergic asthma, we performed a cross-sectional study (277 healthy subjects vs. 277 patients) where clinical parameters, CD14 values and the CD14 (-159 C/T) SNP were studied. Apart from typical biomarkers, we found an increment of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in allergic asthma, probably linked to monocyte activity. Indeed, we evidenced increased monocyte numbers, but lower CD14 expression and normalised sCD14 values in patients. Moreover, we noticed an association of the T allele (P = 0.0162) and TT genotype (P = 0.0196) of the CD14 SNP with a decreased risk of allergic asthma and augmented sCD14 levels. In conclusion, monocyte CD14 expression and normalized sCD14 values were reduced in stable state asthmatics, and this could be related to the presence of an expanded CD14low monocyte subset. This study also demonstrates that the CD14 (-159 C/T) polymorphism is a risk factor for moderate-severe allergic asthma in adult Caucasians.

Expansion of a CD26low Effector TH Subset and Reduction in Circulating Levels of sCD26 in Stable Allergic Asthma in Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJETIVE: The pathogenesis of asthma is dependent on the balance between regulatory and effector T cells, which display differential expression of CD25 and CD26. Therefore, alteration of circulating levels of sCD25 and sCD26 during allergic asthma could be conditioned by changes in leukocyte phenotype. Objectives: To analyze expression of CD25 and CD26 on T lymphocytes and their soluble derivatives (sCD25, sCD26) during stable phases of moderate-severe allergic asthma. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 2 adult cohorts of allergic asthmatics. Clinical, anthropometric, pulmonary, hematological, and biochemical parameters were measured. Phenotyping was performed with flow cytometry in both circulating and cultured leukocytes. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) activity was assayed in culture supernatants. RESULTS: In vitro studies revealed upregulation of CD26 on human T lymphocytes upon activation, especially under TH17-favoring conditions, and a correlation with soluble DPP4 activity (rs=0.641; P<.001). CD26 expression on lymphocytes was higher in asthmatics, while serum sCD26 was lower in women and patients. The latter finding could be associated with an expanded CD25low/CD26low/CD127low subset of effector CD4+ T cells in allergic asthma, with no changes in Treg percentages. However, women showed an increased Teff/Treg ratio, which could explain their greater susceptibility to asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic asthma causes an increment in CD25lowCD26low helper T cells detected in stable stages. These changes are mirrored in serum and should be considered in the light of the downmodulating role of CD26 in major chemokines related to the pathogenesis of asthma such as CCL11 (eotaxin), CCL5 (RANTES), and CXCL12a (SDF-1α).

Asthma exacerbations: risk factors for hospital readmissions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to analyse hospital readmissions due to asthma, as well as the factors associated with their increase. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a retrospective study including all admissions of patients over 18 years old due to exacerbation of asthma occurring in our hospital between the years 2000 and 2010. METHODS: The data were gathered by two members of the research team, by reviewing the clinical records. The first hospital admission of each patient was included for this study. An early readmission (ER) was defined as that which occurred in the following 15 days after hospital discharge and late readmission (LR) to that occurring from 16 days after discharge. RESULTS: This study included 2166 hospital admissions and 1316 patients, with a mean age of 62.6 years. Of the 1316 patients analysed, 36 (2.7%) had one ER and 313 (23.8%) one LR. The only factor independently associated with a higher probability of an ER was poor lung function. A higher probability of LR was associated with a greater severity of the asthma (OR: 17.8, for severe asthma versus intermittent asthma), to have had any hospital admission in the previous year (OR: 3.5) and the use of a combination of ICS-LABA as maintenance treatment. CONCLUSIONS: About 25% of the patients in our area admitted to hospital due to asthma exacerbation had repeat episodes of hospitalisation.

Cross-sectional study about impact of parental smoking on rhinitis symptoms in children.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the prevalence of rhinitis and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of children in our community and its relationship with symptoms of rhinitis METHODS (DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES): Cross-sectional study using questionnaire on rhinitis of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, in children (6-7 years) and adolescents (13-14 years). Categories: "rhinitis ever", "recent rhinitis", "recent rhinoconjunctivitis", "severe rhinoconjunctivitis". Parental smoking: (i) neither parent smokes; (ii) only the mother smokes; (iii) only the father smokes; and (iv) both parents smoke. Odds ratio of the prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis according to ETS exposure was calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: 10 690 children and 10 730 adolescents. The prevalence of "rhinitis ever" in children: 29.4%, "recent rhinitis" 24%, "recent rhinoconjunctivitis" 11.5% and "severe rhinoconjunctivitis" 0.1%. In adolescents: 46.2%, 34.5%, 16.2% and 0.2%, respectively. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in the home occurred in 51% of cases. Parental smoking was associated with a higher prevalence of forms of rhinitis in adolescents when only the mother was a smoker. In children when both parents were smokers. CONCLUSION: Rhinitis is highly prevalent in our community. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure is still very common. The relationship between ETS and rhinitis symptoms in children of this community is not as robust as that found for asthma.

Influence of pollen level on hospitalizations for asthma.

The effect of pollen level on asthma hospitalizations is still under debate. The aim of this study was to analyze hospital admissions due to asthma and its relation with environmental pollen and meteorological factors. During 13 years, we included every patient admitted with asthma as primary or secondary diagnosis. For this purpose, we used a case-crossover analysis to compare pollen concentrations at the time of admission with values of the same variables 2 to 6 days before admission. We included 6,687 hospital admissions. High maximum temperature and low humidity were associated with lower risk of asthma admissions. High mean pollen levels exerted a moderate effect and high maximum pollen levels led to a dramatic increase of hospital admissions due to asthma, especially among females. In conclusion, environmental pollen level increases the risk of asthma hospital admissions.

Obesity and asthma: an association modified by age.

BACKGROUND: Some studies indicate some causal relationship between obesity and asthma, while others show inconsistent results. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma according to obesity in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, following the ISAAC study methodology, was conducted on two randomly selected groups consisting of 6-7 year-old children (n=7485) and 13-14 year-old adolescents (n=8496). The asthma symptoms and potential risk factors were determined from the questionnaire. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the body mass index. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted prevalence odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Obesity was associated with an increase in wheezing ever (OR: 1.35) and exercise-induced asthma (OR: 1.62) in the 6-7 year-old group. No significant relationship was observed in the adolescent population. CONCLUSION: Obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma in young children, but not in adolescents.

Asthma and risk of lung cancer.

Asthma is a very common chronic disease that occurs in all age groups. Its high prevalence has significant health costs, which are even higher in the most severe disease forms. Lung cancer has the highest incidence of all cancers in the developed world and is an important cause of mortality. Patients with lung cancer are a big economic burden on health services, both in direct and indirect costs. Different authors suggest that atopic constitution, including different manifestations of allergy and asthma, are possible risk factors for lung cancer, above all in never-smokers. Given the high asthma prevalence and lung cancer incidence and mortality in developed countries, this association would have important public health implications. Uncertainties about the association and the underlying physiopathological mechanisms, however, seem to require further studies.

Pneumonitis caused by silicone gel following breast implant rupture.

INTRODUCTION: There have been reports of pneumonitis associated with subcutaneous injection of liquid silicone, and of other pulmonary conditions due to cohesive silicone gel prostheses, but we know of no previous cases of pneumonitis associated with silicone gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report the case of a patient with a cohesive silicone gel mammary prosthesis in whom silicone-induced pneumonitis was diagnosed following radiological observation of pulmonary infiltrates and tests including transbronchial biopsy, which revealed the presence of silicone in alveolar histiocytes and small blood vessels. CONCLUSION: Following removal of the ruptured prosthesis and a course of systemic corticoids, the patient progressed favourably.

[Reason for a medical visit in the diagnosis of lung cancer. A review of 481 cases]. / Motivo de consulta en el diagnóstico de cáncer de pulmón. Revisión de 481 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the most frequent cancer death related cause in the world. Its clinical presentation usually corresponds to advanced stages. The indication of screening programs for the diagnosis in early phases has been debated for years. AIMS: To know the clinical characteristics in the presentation of the lung cancer in our health care area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All of the incident lung cancer cases for 3 years (January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1999) among those patients with usual residence in the Santiago de Compostela health care area were retrospectively collected from the available information in the Codification Service. The histological type was graded according to the World Health Organization classification. Date of death was obtained from the patient's clinical history, mortality record, or telephonic calls to the patient's home. The rest of the information was obtained from the clinical records of the patient and Pathology Service. RESULTS: Four-hundred and eighty-one lung cancer cases were diagnosed (incident gross rate of 41.79 per 100,000 inhabitants and year). Median age was 66.9 years (interquartile range 60.5-74.4), 92.77% being males and 94.1% corresponding to smokers or former smokers. The most prevalent symptoms motivating the visit were general syndrome (20%), thoracic pain (19%) and hemoptisis (17%). A group of patients (56), fundamentally males, had an incidental diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of lung cancer seems to be high in our health care area. The standard patient with lung cancer in this health care area is a 67-year-old, male, who smokes, diagnosed in advanced stages, who consults due to a general syndrome and/or chest pain. Some of the symptoms appear with significant gender differences. Likewise, there are differences between histologies, the high frequency of chest pain in adenocarcinoma being outstanding, although it is also the first cause for consultation in small cell lung cancer. On the contrary, hemoptisis, the most frequent consultation cause in squamous cell carcinoma and the general syndrome in the big cells type or with clinical-radiological diagnosis.

Young man with asthma and infertility.

Asthma and male infertility are common diseases that can occur in the same patient. In some cases they could have patho-physiological changes common to both diseases. Our patient was seen as a result of having an irritating cough with wheezing, mainly at night, for more than a month. Asthma was diagnosed, and he responded favourably to the treatment given. Upon being informed that he had been examined for infertility for 5 years, alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels were requested. These confirmed that he had a phenotype SZ AAT deficiency. These findings, together with some evidence published recently, suggested that there is a need to rule out AAT deficiency in males with asthma and infertility.

Predictors of the persistence of childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND: The factors relevant to the prognosis of childhood asthma differ from one population to another. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the course of childhood asthma in the catchment area of our hospital, and to identify prognostic factors for this population. METHODS: All children given a diagnosis of asthma in the paediatric pulmonology service of a tertiary hospital were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: Satisfactory control of asthma was achieved in 69 % of cases. The factors identified as associated with poor control were allergy to cats and pollen, a large number of crises in the year prior to diagnosis, and younger age at onset. CONCLUSIONS: In our region, childhood asthma has a relatively favourable prognosis. The subsequent course of the disease appears to be determined in childhood. The persistence of symptoms appears to depend to a significant extent on the degree of atopy.

[Prevalence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in A Coruña (Spain)]. / Prevalencia de síntomas de asma y rinitis en la población de A Coruña.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis is high in childhood and has been increasing in the last few years. In both diseases underdiagnosis is frequent. OBJECTIVE: To asses the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in childhood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study using a written questionnaire, following the methodology of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), on the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and rhinitis in La Coruña. RESULTS: A total of 3017 boys and girls aged 6-7 years old (response rate 73.9 %) and 2981 boys and girls aged 13-14 years old (response rate 93.6 %) were included. The prevalence of "wheezing at some time" was 25.3 % in adolescents aged 13-14 years old and was 37.2 % in children aged 6-7 years. The prevalence of "asthma at some time" was 18.5 % in adolescents and 13.7 % in children. The prevalence of "rhinitis at some time" was 30.4 % in the group aged 6-7 years and 47.3 % in the group of adolescents. The prevalence of rhinitis was highest in autumn. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis is high in our population and is higher than that observed in most Spanish populations studied.

[COPD, a public health problem]. / Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, un problema de salud pública.

The fundamental etiologic factor of COPD is tobacco. This has a 9% prevalence in Spain and although this rate is underestimated according to the last studies, COPD generates about 39,000 hospital admissions per year. It has a re-admission rate between 12% and 32%, infections being the fundamental cause. The average care cost per patient from its diagnostic to death is 27,500 euro and we should add a high percentage of employee absenteeism. Due to its chronic aspect, high health care cost and possible improvement of the quality of life of patient, the solution to the problem needs to have a more active involvement of the doctor who attends these patients.

Hospital at home for acute respiratory patients.

BACKGROUND: The issue of "hospital at home" (HAH) for acute respiratory patients is one that is still being debated, partly because economic, cultural and health service differences between locations imply that HAH schemes need to be tailored to local situations. The aim of the present study was to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of HAH for patients with acute respiratory disease at our institution. METHODS: Of all the patients admitted to our institution via the emergency department during a 34-day subject enrollment period, 25 with diagnoses of respiratory infection, pneumonia, pulmonary insufficiency or exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were living within 25 km of our center and who were willing to receive HAH care were assigned to HAH. Fifty sex-matched controls with the same diagnoses were given conventional hospital care (CHC) as inpatients. The dependent variables evaluated included time to discharge, readmissions within 3 months and deaths within 3 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the HAH and CHC groups with regard to age, diagnoses, physical and analytical findings, or co-morbidity, or with regard to deaths (HAH 16%, CHC 10%) or readmissions (HAH 17%, CHC 24%). Time to final discharge was significantly shorter for HAH patients (7 days) than for CHC patients (12 days). Some 95% of the HAH patients were satisfied and would choose HAH again. CONCLUSIONS: HAH seems feasible for appropriately selected acute respiratory disease patients presenting in our emergency department. It frees hospital beds for other patients, its readmission and mortality rates are no higher than for conventional hospitalization, and, in general, it is favorably evaluated by patients.

[Factors determining the duration of temporary disability and return to work in a health district of Galicia]. / Determinantes de la duración de la incapacidad temporal y la vuelta al trabajo en un área sanitaria de Galicia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with the incidence and duration of temporary work incapacity (TWI) in a health district. DESIGN: Descriptive and retrospective study. SETTING: South health district of the province of Lugo, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 1513 cases was selected among the total of episodes of TWI, during 3 years period. MAIN MEASURES: The main factors analyzed are, on the one hand, the socio-demographic characteristics of the patient, his or her social security (SS) scheme, diagnosis that justifies the TWD, and the prescription date; and, on the other hand, the age, sex, specialised training, time in the post and years in practice of the physician who prescribes the TWI. The comparison of the means was carried out using variance analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The relative effect of each variable on the probability of returning to the work was estimated through Cox regression models. RESULTS: The mean duration of the episodes of TWI was of 74+/-103 days. The most frequent diagnoses were those of the bones-muscles and joints (BMAJ), injuries and poisonings (IAP), and respiratory diseases (RD). The probability of returning to work is reduced with the increase of the age, with agrarian and autonomous SS affiliates, with diagnoses of mental disease or diagnoses of the circulatory system, and in cases prescribed by older doctors or less time in the post. CONCLUSIONS: The mean duration of the episodes of TWD is higher than that of other Spanish studies. The most influential factors in the return to work are the age of the patient, the SS scheme and the diagnosed illness.

[Alveolar lipoproteinosis, an incidental finding during an unrelated pre-surgical study with inadequate response to complete pulmonary washing]. / Proteinosis alveolar, un hallazgo incidental en un estudio preoperatoiro con respuesta insuficiente al lavado pulmonar completo.

The alveolar lipoproteinosis (ALP) is a rare pulmonary disease, characterized by an excess of phospholipids in the distal airway, and the most symptom of which is dyspnea. 35 years old patient in whom we observed incidentally pulmonary infiltrations in a chest X-ray during a unrelated pre-surgical study. We could not make a definitive diagnosis after further investigations carried out in the Division of Respiratory Medicine. We, therefore, sent this patient to the Division of Chest Surgery for a complementary video-thoracoscopy. Biopsy showed presence of ALP. The ALP is a rare disease that originates diagnosis difficulties, and that often needs lung biopsies to confirm its diagnosis. Once treated, its prognosis is excellent. The safest and most effective treatment is a complete pulmonary washing, that, in our patient, was required 7 months after diagnosis as this patient presented clinical deterioration and worsening in the lung function studies. This treatment did not achieve the expected goal. In the subsequent 6 months, we repeated the same treatment and failed again. We then started a treatment with granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and obtain good response.

[An epidemiological study of tuberculosis in the health area of Santiago de Compostela during the years 1989, 1990 and 1991]. / Estudio epidemiológico de la tuberculosis en el área sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela durante los años 1989, 1990 y 1991.

In order to assess the incidence of tuberculous disease in our health area, we reviewed the clinical records of patients from the three hospitals of the area under study during the years 1989, 1990 and 1991, who had positive bacilloscopy, positive Lowenstein's culture in any specimen and/or compatible anatomopathologic report. After excluding 26 patients because they belonged to other health areas, 885 patients remained in the study, out of which 251 (64% men and 36% women) were from the year 1989, 270 (64% men and 36% women) from the year 1990 and 364 (62% men and 38% women) from the year 1991. The mean age was 38.4 (SD 20.5). Fifty-one percent of the patients were between 20 and 35 years old. The rate of new cases was 65.87 per 100.000 population in 1989, 71.05 in 1990 and 95.53 in 1991. Seventy-four cases were HIV-positive (8%). Tuberculous meningitis was present in 12 patients. The highest mortality was 1.79 per 100.000 population in 1990. We conclude that tuberculosis presents a medium-high incidence in our health area.

[An endobronchial mass as the presentation of tuberculosis. A report of 3 cases and review of the literature]. / Masa endobronquial como presentación de tuberculosis. Descripción de tres casos y revisión de la literatura.

3 cases of endobronchial TB are described. They were diagnosed as endobronchial mass which deviated the diagnosis to another pathology in absence of sputum culture. The TB treatment produced a complete resolution of the lesions. We highlight the endobronchial mass as a non-frequent clinical feature of EBTB and we should bear this etiology in mind in differential diagnosis of all endobronchial masses even if the clinical and endoscopic data are of bronchial tumor.