Evaluation of the Effect of a Nasal Allergen Challenge With Dermatophagoides Farinae Extract on Nasal Airway Inflammation in Allergic Individuals, Comparing E-cigarette Users to Cigarette Smokers and Non-smokers. (Mitey Nose)

This is an interventional basic science trial for Healthy Participants focused on measuring E-cig smokers Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Specific allergy to house dust mite D. farinae confirmed by positive immediate skin test response
2. Subjects will either be non-asthmatic or have mild asthma characterized by an Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of at least 80% of predicted to Forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of at least .75
3. Subjects will be classified as tobacco smokers, e-cigarette users, or non-smokers according to the following guidelines.
4. Ability to withhold antihistamine medications for one week prior to baseline and allergen challenge visits
5. Subjects must be able and willing to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any chronic medical condition considered by the PI as a contraindication to the allergen challenge study including significant cardiovascular disease, diabetes requiring medication, chronic renal disease, bleeding disorder, or chronic thyroid disease.
2. Physician directed emergency treatment for an asthma exacerbation within the preceding 12 months.
3. Use of systemic steroid therapy within the preceding 12 months for treatment of an asthma exacerbation.
4. Use of inhaled or nasal steroids, cromolyn or leukotriene receptor antagonists (Montelukast or zafirlukast ) within the past month (except for use of cromolyn exclusively prior to exercise).
5. Subjects who smoke marijuana or use illicit drugs will be excluded.
6. Use of daily theophylline within the past month.
7. Use of nasal medications that might alter the response to nasal allergen challenge including anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine agents within one week of challenge.
8. Inability to withhold inhaled or oral bronchodilator medications for 12 hours prior to allergen challenge.
9. Pregnancy or nursing a baby.
10. Women of child-bearing age who are not using dependable contraception (such as birth control pills, intrauterine device (IUD), estrogen patches) or who are not completely abstinent.
11. Nighttime symptoms of cough or wheeze greater than 1x/week at baseline (not during a clearly recognized viral induced asthma exacerbation) which would be characteristic of a person of moderate or severe persistent asthma as outlined in the current NHLBI guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma.
12. Exacerbation of asthma more than 2x/week which would be characteristic of a person with moderate or severe persistent asthma as outlined in the current NHLBI guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma.
13. Daily requirement for albuterol due to asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness) which would be characteristic of a person of moderate or severe persistent asthma as outlined in the current NHLBI guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma. (Not to include prophylactic use of albuterol prior to exercise).
14. Viral upper respiratory tract infection or other acute inflammatory conditions of the nose or paranasal sinuses, such as sinusitis, within 4 weeks of challenge.
15. Any acute infection requiring antibiotics within 4 weeks of challenge.
16. Participating in an allergen inhalation study within 2 weeks of this challenge or use of any other investigational agent within the last 30 days.

17. Use of tricyclic antidepressants or beta-blockers.

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