Editorial Selection: Reproducibility of exhaled biomarkers in COPD—the road less traveled & Active smoking among asthmatic youth—How concerned we need to be ||FREE PAPER||

Ildiko Horvath

Department of Clinical Experimental Research and Human Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract: In recent years, interest in the measurement of exhaled biomarkers has increased, mainly driven by the unmet clinical need to monitor airway inflammation and the response to antiinflammatory therapy. Beside exhaled nitric oxide measurement that entered clinical practice, measurement of biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a rapidly expanding area of this field. EBC is easy to collect as it only requires the noninvasive collection of exhaled breath in a cold trap.

Aida Semic-Jusufagic, Adnan Custovic

Academic Division of Medicine and Surgery South, University of Manchester, Wythenshawe Hospital, North West Lung Centre, UK

Abstract: There is no doubt that tobacco smoking, whether active or passive, has a harmful effect on health of all individuals. Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and if exposed have higher incidence of lower respiratory tract illnesses in their early years (Cook and Strachan 1999). Furthermore, it has been suggested that the high levels of ETS exposure during childhood may increase the risk of chronic obstructive respiratory disease in adulthood.