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Original papers

Neutrophils inflammation indicative of asthma severity

Adriana Grigoras1, Constantin-Cristian Grigoras2, Traian Mihaescu3, Alina Floarea-Strat4, Corina Andriescu4, Coriolan Cotutiu1
Neutrophils inflammation indicative of asthma severity

ABSTRACT

Our main aim in this study was to investigate the number of neutrophils at the bronchial mucosae level in patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma.

Matherial and methods: We examined a number of 21 patients with different level of severity of asthma (according to GINA). Fragments of bronchial mucosae were obtained through fiberbronchoscopy, prepared for histological examination for realize the immune staining with anti-elastase antibodies. 

Results: We found significantly higher number of  neutrophils at microscopic examination in the patients with severe asthma than those in healthy or mild asthma subjects (r=0.79, p<<0.01).

 Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that neutrophils can be considered a specific lesion in patients with severe bronchial asthma.

Key words: bronchial asthma, inflammation, neutrophils.

Contact: Constantin-Cristian Grigoras, Spitalul Clinic Pneumologie, Ambulatoriul de Specialitate, Str. Dr. I. Cihac, nr 30, 700115, Iasi. E-mail: c_grigoras@hotmail.com

 

HEALTH CARE WORKERS SMOKE AS WELL – WHO, HOW MUCH AND WHY ?

Dragica Pesut,1,2 Branka Milovanovic,1 Milica Bulajic,3 Danica Bozic2
HEALTH CARE WORKERS SMOKE AS WELL – WHO, HOW MUCH AND WHY ?

ABSTRACT

In this observational study based on an original questionnaire, we investigated a group of health care workers - smokers employees of a teaching hospital in terms of basic features of tobacco smoking. A total of 137 smokers were asked to answer the questions on voluntary basis and anonymously. Response rate was 70%: a total of 96 participants with valid questionnaires consisted of 93% women, predominantly nurses (71%); mean age 40.5 (range 19-58 years). They started smoking at the age of 20 years on average; 83% started smoking before the age of 23. The mean smoking duration was 19.1±9.378 years and the average number of the cigarettes smoked per day was 17±7.90. They smoke 18±13.55 pack/year; 25% smoke 7.42p/y, 25% smoke >27.5 p/y. Some 59% had tried and failed to stop smoking while 61% intend to stop smoking (married significantly more intend to quit than singles). The most important reasons for smoking, in a rank order, were: a) habit (35.36%), b) nervousness (12.13%) and c) pleasure (11.11%); boring and desire were rarely mentioned; only 7 (7.3%) stated addiction. There is an urgent need of continuous medical education on tobacco smoking as an addictive disease, its primary prevention and cure, including professional assistance in smoking cessation.

Key words: tobacco smoking, health care workers, epidemiology, questionnaire 

Contact: Dragica Pesut, MD, PhD, Institute of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Department, 11000 Belgrade, Visegradska 26, Serbia, E-mail: dragica.pesut@gmail.com