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Query: UMLS:C0027121 (myositis)
 4,538 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Asthma is a condition characterized by variable airflow obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation which is usually, but not invariably, eosinophilic. Current thoughts on the pathogenesis of asthma are focused on the idea that it is caused by an inappropriate response of the specific immune system to harmless antigens, particularly allergens such as cat dander and house dust mite, that result in Th2-mediated chronic inflammation. However, the relationship between inflammation and asthma is complex, with no good correlation between the severity of inflammation, at least as measured by the number of eosinophils, and the severity of asthma. In addition, there are a number of conditions, such as eosinophilic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis, in which there is a Th2-mediated inflammatory response, but no asthma, as measured by variable airflow obstruction or AHR. Bronchoconstriction can also occur without obvious airway inflammation, and neutrophilic inflammation can in some cases be associated with asthma. When we compared the immunopathology of eosinophilic bronchitis and asthma, the only difference we observed was that, in asthma, the airway smooth muscle (ASM) was infiltrated by mast cells, suggesting that airway obstruction and AHR are due to an ASM mast cell myositis. This observation emphasizes that the features that characterize asthma, as opposed to bronchitis, are due to abnormalities in smooth muscle responsiveness, which could be intrinsic or acquired, and that inflammation is only relevant in that it leads to these abnormalities. It also emphasizes the importance of micro-localization as an organizing principle in physiological responses to airway inflammation. Thus, if inflammation is localized to the epithelium and lamina propria, then the symptoms of bronchitis (cough and mucus hypersecretion) result, and it is only if the ASM is involved -- for reasons that remain to be established -- that asthma occurs.
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PMID:New insights into the relationship between airway inflammation and asthma. 1214 12

Orbital myositis is an inflammatory process that primarily involves the extraocular muscles and most commonly affects young adults in the third decade of life, with a female predilection. Clinical characteristics of orbital myositis include orbital and periorbital pain, ocular movement impairment, diplopia, proptosis, swollen eyelids, and conjunctival hyperemia. The most common presentation is acute and unilateral, which initially responds to systemic corticosteroid therapy. However, chronic and recurrent cases may involve both orbits. Many inflammatory, vascular, neoplastic, and infectious conditions that affect the extraocular muscles and other orbital tissue can mimic orbital myositis. The most important differential diagnoses include thyroid-related eye disease, other orbital inflammatory processes (unspecific idiopathic inflammation, vasculitis, and sarcoidosis), orbital cellulitis, and orbital tumors. In refractory, chronic, or recurrent cases, steroid-sparing agents, inmmunosuppressants, or radiation therapy may be indicated.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2009 Jul
PMID:Orbital myositis: diagnosis and management. 1965 80

Ocular myositis frequently manifests with orbital pain and diplopia. The diagnosis of ocular myositis falls within the overall classification of idiopathic orbital inflammatory diseases, defined as non-infective non-specific orbital inflammation without identifiable local or systemic causes. Orbital myositis may form part of more widespread systemic inflammatory processes such as Crohn's disease and the more recently described IgG4-related disease. There is also a broad range of ophthalmic differential diagnoses. Diagnosis, assessment and management of ocular myositis requires the cooperation of ophthalmologists and rheumatologists/immunologists in order to achieve the best patient outcomes. The current literature and avenues of future research are reviewed.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2013 Jun
PMID:Ocular myositis. 2309 72