Biomaterial Database

Environmental contributions to the allergic asthma epidemic. 2002

Farrah Kheradmand, and Kirtee Rishi, and David B Corry

Department of Medicine, The Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

Current data overwhelmingly document the existence of a worldwide asthma epidemic, although individual studies remain controversial. The epidemic is thought to involve primarily persons with allergic asthma, and many diverse theories, based on an immunopathologic understanding of disease, have recently emerged to explain this involvement. In the context of recent insights into the immune basis of experimental asthma, we discuss in this review the leading asthma epidemic theories, including a new theory based on inhaled environmental proteases. Although no single theory may yet be fully embraced, there exists substantial hope that a unifying mechanism for the epidemic will be revealed through additional research.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006967	Hypersensitivity	Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen.	Allergy,Allergic Reaction,Allergic Reactions,Allergies,Hypersensitivities,Reaction, Allergic,Reactions, Allergic
D007239	Infections	Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases.	Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D010450	Endopeptidases	A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS.	Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D004196	Disease Outbreaks	Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS.	Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000393	Air Pollutants	Any substance in the air which could, if present in high enough concentration, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Substances include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; and volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS.	Air Pollutant,Air Pollutants, Environmental,Environmental Air Pollutants,Environmental Pollutants, Air,Air Environmental Pollutants,Pollutant, Air,Pollutants, Air,Pollutants, Air Environmental,Pollutants, Environmental Air
D000894	Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal	Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.	Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory,Aspirin-Like Agent,Aspirin-Like Agents,NSAID,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal,Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal,NSAIDs,Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents,Agent, Aspirin-Like,Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal,Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics,Aspirin Like Agent,Aspirin Like Agents,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent,Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents,Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
D001241	Aspirin	The prototypical analgesic used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain. It has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties and acts as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase which results in the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Aspirin also inhibits platelet aggregation and is used in the prevention of arterial and venous thrombosis. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p5)	Acetylsalicylic Acid,2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic Acid,Acetysal,Acylpyrin,Aloxiprimum,Colfarit,Dispril,Easprin,Ecotrin,Endosprin,Magnecyl,Micristin,Polopirin,Polopiryna,Solprin,Solupsan,Zorprin,Acid, Acetylsalicylic