PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Pecova

Publications and source records attributed to R Pecova.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Changes of cough reflex sensitivity induced by cancer radiotherapy of chest and neck regions.

It is reasonable to suppose that airway mucosa can be damaged by irradiation applied to chest and neck regions. The inflammatory process is a consequence of an injury. Airway inflammation is one mechanism responsible for cough induction. So, one can suppose that radiotherapy (RT) focused on the patients' chest or neck may injure airway mucosa, which might change sensitivity of the nerve-endings mediating the cough reflex. The purpose of this study was to examine cough reflex sensitivity (CRS) in patients who underwent RT in the chest and neck regions. CRS test using capsaicin was performed in patients with breast cancer (Group A, n=19), and with lung or neck cancer in (Group B, n=14) who underwent RT. Capsaicin aerosol in doubled concentrations (0.49-1000 microM) was inhaled by a single breath. CRS was defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration that evoked 2 or more coughs (C2). Radiation doses ranged from 40 to 70 Gy. Capsaicin cough challenge was performed before and then in the 2(nd) and 5(th) week of RT. We observed a significantly reduced value of C2, i.e., increased cough reflex sensitivity, in Group B in the 2(nd) week of RT (P= 0.04). We conclude that CRS in the lung or neck cancer patients undergoing RT is significantly enhanced, which could result from injury to the nerve endings in airway mucosa.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The effects of nasal histamine challenge on cough reflex in healthy volunteers.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of nasal histamine on the intensity of cough reflex and the effects of intensified nasal breathing following the nasal histamine challenge on cough sensitivity (CS) in humans. 20 volunteers (mean age 23, nonsmokers, no history of nasal or respiratory system diseases and atopy) were recruited to the study. Baseline CS was determined in all subjects. 2 days later the subjects (n = 20) were challenged with nasal histamine (8 mg/ml, 0.1 ml) and the number of coughs was determined after four consecutive single-breath inhalations of capsaicin C2 concentration during the period of the most intensive nasal symptoms (sneezing, itching of the nose). The same capsaicin C2 challenge was performed after nasal saline challenge two days later. One week later CS was determined after nasal histamine challenge with subsequent 10 min of intensified breathing (5-6 sniff-like aspirations to total lung capacity per minute) through the nose and mouth in randomized order in ten volunteers, and with a two-day interval between the challenges. The same manoeuvres after intranasal saline challenge were performed in volunteers of the control group (n = 10). The number of coughs after nasal histamine was significantly higher than that after intranasal saline challenge (8(6-10) vs 5(3-7); p = 0.038(. CS was not significantly different between the baseline challenge and challenges after nasal histamine followed by the intensified nasal and mouth breathing ((2.21 (1.8-2.62) vs 2.04 (1.57-2.51) vs 2.05 (1.6-2.5) log(10) of capsaicin concentration in mumol.l(-1); p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: During the period of maximum nasal symptoms after nasal histamine challenge the cough response to inhaled capsaicin was enhanced. Capsaicin cough sensitivity measured after a 10-min. intensified nasal breathing after nasal histamine challenge, compared to a previous measurement of CS, remain unchanged.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed2005

Cough sensitivity in allergic rhinitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate capsaicin cough sensitivity in pollen sensitive patients with allergic rhinitis at the time of grass pollen season and out of it. Cough reflex sensitivity was defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration that evoked 2 or more coughs (C2). Capsaicin aerosol in doubled concentrations (from 0.02 to 200 micromol) was inhaled by a single breath. Two groups of pollen sensitive rhinitis subjects and a group of healthy controls were studied. The C2 for the 23 pollen sensitive patients of the first group, studied out of pollen season (January-February), was 0.22 micromol/l (0.06-0.76) (geometric mean + 95% CI), which was substantially lower than the 4.29 micromol/l (2.54-7.26) in 24 healthy volunteers (P=0.0001). In another group of 15 pollen sensitive patients, C2 was 0.84 micromol/l (0.14-5.20) out of pollen season and 0.11 micromol/l (0.03-0.33) during the pollen season (May-June) (P=0.04). We conclude that pollen-sensitive subjects who suffer of seasonal allergic rhinitis have significantly greater capsaicin cough sensitivity, regardless of them being in or out of pollen season. Subclinical inflammatory changes in the lower airways are probably responsible for this effect.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Effects of intranasal histamine on the cough reflex in subjects with allergic rhinitis.

In the present study we investigated the effects of nasal histamine on the intensity of coughing and the effects of intensified nasal breathing following nasal histamine on cough sensitivity (CS) in 14 subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The study consisted of two parts performed one week apart. First, baseline CS to capsaicin was determined, followed by intranasal histamine challenge (4 mg/ml, 0.1 ml) and the count of the number of coughs to inhaled capsaicin on the background of most intensive nasal symptoms (sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea, and nasal blockage) evoked by histamine. In the second part, CS was determined after intranasal histamine followed by 10 min of intensified nasal breathing through the nose or mouth in a randomized order at 2-day intervals. The number of coughs induced after intranasal histamine was significantly higher, compared with intranasal saline, [9 (7-12) vs. 4.5 (4-6), P<0.001]. CS also was significantly increased after nasal histamine, but nasal intensified breathing failed to cause any changes in CS. We conclude that stimulation of nasal mucosa with histamine enhanced the cough response in subjects with allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Induced sputum eosinophils, bronchial reactivity, and cough sensitivity in subjects with allergic rhinitis.

Some patients with allergic rhinitis and no clinical evidence of asthma exhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In the present study, induced sputum and acetylcholine and capsaicin challenges were assessed in four groups of adult subjects: allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic rhinitis with lower airway symptoms (ARLA), mild stable asthma (BA), and healthy volunteers (C) to correlate lower airway inflammatory markers with bronchial and cough reactivity. Patients with AR (n = 13) and ARLA (n = 11) did not take any anti-inflammatory drugs. Those with BA (n = 9) used inhaled corticosteroids and C (n = 10) were respiratory symptoms free. The patients underwent capsaicin cough challenge and sputum induction with hypertonic saline during the first visit, and acetylcholine bronchial challenge on a separate day. We found that the percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum was significantly higher in patients with AR, ARLA, and BA than in C 14.5 +/-1.8(SE) vs. 13.5 +/-2.9 vs. 13.9 +/-4.0 vs. 3.6 +/-0.8 %, respectively (P=0.012). In contrast, acetylcholine PD(20) in patients with AR, ARLA, and BA was significantly lower than in C 5.6 +/-0.9 vs. 4.1 +/-0.4 vs. 2.8 +/-0.4 vs. 12.9 +/-2.7 mg, respectively (P=0.0001). Neither the eosinophil percentage nor PD20, nor cough sensitivity appreciably differed across the patients groups. Sputum eosinophils correlated significantly with the acetylcholine PD(20) (r=0.37, P=0.016). We conclude that eosinophilic inflammation of lower airways and increased bronchial reactivity were present in adult patients with allergic rhinitis.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2004

Effects of intranasal capsaicin challenge on cough reflex in healthy human volunteers.

Rhinosinusitis is the most common cause of chronic cough. There is clinical experience that cough can be elicited from lower airways including the larynx. However, there is no experimental evidence, that afferent nerve endings localized in the nose or sinuses can directly mediate the cough reflex. Stimulation of nasal afferents affects breathing pattern (apnea) and bronchial smooth muscles (nasobronchial reflex). The question arises of whether stimulation of nasal afferents could also interfere with the cough reflex. Intranasal capsaicin enhances the cough response in cats and guinea pigs. In the present study we address the problem of modulation of the cough response by intranasal capsaicin challenge in humans. Twelve healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The effect of intranasal capsaicin (25 microl, 750 microM) and the airway cough threshold were determined at the start of the experiment. After that, cough response was provoked by inhalation of a tussigen during stimulation of nasal afferents with capsaicin and in control conditions in a randomized order. The cough response provoked during intranasal capsaicin was significantly enhanced compared with that during control conditions. Thus, the result was similar to that obtained in previous animal studies. The enhancement of the cough response could be explained by a facilitating interaction between the afferent information of nasal origin and the central neuronal network responsible for creation of cough pattern.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2003

Cough sensitivity in atopic dermatitis.

The aim of study was to investigate the cough sensitivity (C2) to capsaicin (CAPS) in patients with atopic dermatitis without clinical respiratory symptoms. Cough sensitivity (C2) is defined as the lowest CAPS concentration, which evokes two or more coughs. Forty eight dermatological patients (21 M, 27 F; mean age 44 yr) and 24 healthy volunteers (14 M, 10 F; mean age 37 yr) inhaled deep breath (2 l) of CAPS aerosol in doubled concentrations (from 0.02 to 200 micromol/l) (Pari Provokationstest I, PARI WERK; mass median diameter 1.2 microm). Cough sensitivity (C2) expressed as geometric mean (95% CI) of CAPS concentration was 0.13 micromol/l (0.06-0.31) in 26 patients with atopic dermatitis (10 M, 16 F; mean age 41 yr), 5.51 micromol/l (1.33-22.90) in 22 patients with psoriasis (11 M, 11 F; mean age 46 yr) and 4.29 micromol/l (2.54-7.26) in 24 controls. There is significant difference of cough sensitivity (C2) between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy volunteers (p<0.001) and also between patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis (p<0.001). Cough sensitivity (C2) in atopic dermatitis patients without clinical respiratory symptoms is significantly increased. In patients with psoriasis cough sensitivity (C2) is not significantly changed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cough sensitivity in localized scleroderma with no clinical symptoms from lower airways.

Cough sensitivity is increased in patients with atopic dermatitis, although they have no clinical symptoms from the lower airways. In the present study we examined the cough sensitivity to capsaicin in patients, who had no clinical respiratory symptoms, with sclerodermia localized to the skin. Cough sensitivity was defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration, which evokes 2 or more coughs. Twelve patients and 12 healthy matched volunteers, as a comparison group, inhaled deep breaths (2 L) of a capsaicin aerosol in doubled concentrations (from 0.02 to 200 micromol/L). Cough sensitivity, expressed as a geometric mean (95% CI) of capsaicin concentration, was 0.15 micromol/L (0.04 to 0.56) in the patients with localized sclerodermia and 4.96 micromol/L (2.50 to 9.85) in controls, which made a significant difference towards higher cough sensitivity in sclerodermia, respiratory symptom-free patients. Thus, disease processes localized outside the respiratory tract may have surreptitious pulmonary manifestation that is brought to light by the capsaicin cough test.

Adult↗