William J. Calhoun

TL;DR: Severe asthma is characterized by abnormal lung function that is responsive to bronchodilators, a history of sinopulmonary infections, persistent symptoms, and increased health care utilization.

TL;DR: In this article, the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 beta), have been associated with accelerated metabolism and protein turnover following exogenous administration in normal humans.

TL;DR: It is concluded that rhinovirus upper respiratory infection significantly augments immediate and late allergic responses in the airways of allergic individuals after local antigen challenge, suggesting that one mechanism of increased asthma during a cold is an accentuation of allergic responses to the airway which may then contribute to bronchial inflammation.

TL;DR: It is concluded that air trapping is a characteristic feature of the severe asthma population, suggesting that there is a pathological process associated with severe asthma that makes airways more vulnerable to this component.

TL;DR: It is suggested that eosinophils are attracted to the airway during the late-phase allergic reaction and that IL-5 may produce changes in airway eos inophil density and promote the release of granular proteins to cause airway injury.