Steroids may be harmful in some cases of severe asthma, Pitt researchers find

Inhaled steroids, a common treatment method for asthmatics, may actually hinder patients with a severe form of asthma, local experts reported Thursday in a new study.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and UPMC discovered a protein called CXCL10 to be elevated in lung cells of about half of severe asthma patients treated with a high dose of inhaled cortico­steroids such as Advair.
The researchers had found that high levels of the inflammatory protein interferon-gamma are produced in the airways of about half of severe asthma patients. The new research, published in the medical journal JCI Insight ,centered on interferon-gamma inducing CXCL10, thereby worsening the cycle of lung inflammation.....

Read more here: triblive.com

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Tennessee girl dies from apparent asthma attack after fireworks 

A 9-year-old Tennessee girl died from an apparent asthma attack after watching a fireworks celebration, the Citizen Tribune reported.
Lourdes Trevino of the East Tennessee community of Bybee was watching a fireworks display with her older brother and sister when she began having trouble breathing, the Citizen Tribune reported. Family members said her breathing difficulties likely came from the smoke that accompanied the fireworks.....

Read more here: myajc.com

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Maternal sugar intake linked to allergic asthma in offspring

New research finds links between a mother's consumption of sugars during pregnancy and the risk of her offspring developing asthma.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that in the United States, 18.4 million adults currently have asthma. An additional 6.2 million U.S. children live with the condition.
Previous studies have pointed to an association between a high intake of sugary soft drinks and the onset of asthma in children aged 11. Consuming soft drinks with added sugar has been shown to considerably raise the risk of childhood asthma.....

Read more here: medicalnewstoday.com