Exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensate pH as predictors of sputum cell counts in optimally treated asthmatic smokers

Abstract

EBC pH and FeNO levels were significantly lower in asthmatic smokers compared with non-smokers. Combined specific cut-off levels for FeNO and EBC pH may predict the paucigranulocytic phenotype in asthmatic smokers.

Spectrum of Galactic Cosmic Rays Accelerated in Supernova Remnants

“…Further investigations of cosmic rays propagation in galactic magnetic fields at ultra high energies are needed to refine the predicted shape of the spectrum produced by the Galactic SNRs. This is important in light of the discussion about transition from the Galactic to extragalactic component in the observed cosmic ray spectrum [17,18].…”

Improving the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma

“…Threshold values with high sensitivity or high specificity to detect elevated sputum eosinophils have also been reported for FeNO [8,34,42,50,[66][67][68]. However, these thresholds vary widely depending on the technique that is being used, and the population under study.…”

A Review of Pulmonary Toxicity of Electronic Cigarettes in the Context of Smoking: A Focus on Inflammation

“…The inducible NOS (iNOS) is transcriptionally regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines in epithelial cells and macrophages in the airways (144). FeNO has been shown to be decreased by almost 50% in smokers in several cross-sectional studies (145–148), possibly related to the large amount of NO in cigarette smoke (146). The reduction in FeNO also is thought to be related to nitric oxide synthase inhibition due to cigarette smoke carbon monoxide and/or oxygen free radicals (146, 149).…”