title: Asthma: emerging concepts and potential therapies.
abstract: Asthma is a disease of the airways that results in reversible airflow obstruction. Recent investigations have suggested that airway inflammation is associated with increased airway responsiveness and worsening of asthmatic symptoms. The role that mast cell mediators might play in the production of asthma has been investigated by use of newer analytical techniques and by use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy with lavage to obtain lower respiratory tract fluid and cells. In addition, new investigational compounds that interfere with the synthesis or action of inflammatory mediators have been tested. Developing lines of investigation suggest that chronic activation of inflammatory cells may be important in the pathogenesis of asthma.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists