L’attività di ricerca della equipe della SOD Pneumologia e fisiopatologia toracopolmonare sulla tosse cronica è volta alla comprensione dei meccanismi che generano la tosse ed in particolare allo studio dei fattori implicati nella modulazione della sensibilità del riflesso stesso. È noto infatti che numerose affezioni polmonari, ma anche extrapolmonari e addirittura sistemiche, possono determinare la comparsa della tosse.

L'attività di ricerca svolta dai membri che afferiscono al centro per lo studio e la diagnosi della tosse è documentata dalle pubblicazioni scientifiche prodotte:

• Desensitization of the Cough Reflex by Exercise and Voluntary Isocapnic Hyperpnoea
  Lavorini F, Fontana GA, Chellini E, Magni C, Duranti R, Widdicombe J.
  J Appl Physiol, 2010 Jan 21
• Semantics and types of cough
  Chung KF, Bolser D, Davenport P, Fontana G, Morice A, Widdicombe J.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2009;22(2):139-42. Epub 2008 Dec 25
• Workshop - Cough: Exercise, speech and music
  Widdicombe J, Fontana G, Gibson P.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2009;22(2):143-7. Epub 2008 Dec 25
• Cough reflex responses during pulmonary C-fibre receptor activation in anesthetized rabbits
  Mutolo D, Bongianni F, Cinelli E, Fontana GA, Pantaleo T.
  Neurosci Lett. 2008 Dec 26;448(2):200-3. Epub 2008 Nov 1
• Modulation of the cough reflex by antitussive agents within the caudal aspect of the nucleus tractus solitarii in the rabbit
  Mutolo D, Bongianni F, Cinelli E, Fontana GA, Pantaleo T.
  Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Jul;295(1):R243-51. Epub 2008 May 14
• Agrement between two methods for assessing bioequivalence of inhaled salbutamol
  Lavorini F, Geri P, Camiciottoli G, Pistolesi M, Fontana GA.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2008;21(2):380-4. Epub 2007 Oct 11
• Before we get started: what is a cough?
  Fontana GA.
  Lung. 2008;186 Suppl 1:S3-6. Epub 2007 Oct 2. Review
• The role of excitatory amino acids and substance P in the mediation of the cough reflex within the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rabbit
  Mutolo D, Bongianni F, Fontana GA, Pantaleo T.
  Brain Res Bull. 2007 Sep 28;74(4):284-93. Epub 2007 Jul 23
• Fog-induced cough with impaired respiratory sensation in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
  Lavorini F, Fontana GA, Pantaleo T, Geri P, Piumelli R, Pistolesi M, Widdicombe J.
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Oct 15;176(8):825-32. Epub 2007 Aug 2
• ERS guidelines on the assessment of cough
  Morice AH, Fontana GA, Belvisi MG, Birring SS, Chung KF, Dicpinigaitis PV, Kastelik JA, McGarvey P, Smith JA, Tatar M, Widdicombe J; European Respiratory Society (ERS).
  Eur Respir J. 2007 Jun;29(6):1256-76. No abstract available
• What is cough and what should be measured?
  Fontana GA, Widdicombe J.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2007;20(4):307-12. Epub 2006 Dec 14
• Cough and ventilatory adjustments evoked by aerosolised capsaicin and distilled water (fog) in man
  Lavorini F, Pantaleo T, Geri P, Mutolo D, Pistolesi M, Fontana GA.
  Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2007 Jun 15;156(3):331-9. Epub 2006 Oct 27
• Speed of onset of bronchodilator response to salbutamol inhaled via different devices in asthmatics: a bioassay based on functional antagonism
  Lavorini F, Geri P, Mariani L, Marmai C, Maluccio NM, Pistolesi M, Fontana GA.
  Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 Oct;62(4):403-11
• Cough: what's in a name?
  Widdicombe J, Fontana G.
  Eur Respir J. 2006 Jul;28(1):10-5. Review
• Supramedullary influences on cough
  Widdicombe J, Eccles R, Fontana G.
  Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2006 Jul 28;152(3):320-8. Epub 2006 Apr 18. Review
• Cough motor mechanisms
  Fontana GA, Lavorini F.
  Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2006 Jul 28;152(3):266-81. Epub 2006 Apr 4. Review
• Physiological down-regulation of cough
  Fontana G, Widdicombe J.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2004;17(6):465-8. Review. No abstract available
• Cough in children with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
  Fontana GA, Lavorini F, Geri P, Zanasi A, Piumelli R.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2004;17(6):425-9. Review
• Clinical and functional responses to salbutamol inhaled via different devices in asthmatic patients with induced bronchoconstriction
  Lavorini F, Geri P, Luperini M, Maluccio NM, Mariani L, Marmai C, Pistolesi M, Fontana GA.
  Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004 Nov;58(5):512-20
• The diagnosis and management of chronic cough
  Morice AH, Fontana GA, Sovijarvi AR, Pistolesi M, Chung KF, Widdicombe J, O'Connell F, Geppetti P, Gronke L, De Jongste J, Belvisi M, Dicpinigaitis P, Fischer A, McGarvey L, Fokkens WJ, Kastelik J; ERS Task Force.
  Eur Respir J. 2004 Sep;24(3):481-92. Review. No abstract available
• Antitussive activity of iodo-resiniferatoxin in guinea pigs
  Trevisani M, Milan A, Gatti R, Zanasi A, Harrison S, Fontana G, Morice AH, Geppetti P.
  Thorax. 2004 Sep;59(9):769-72
• Cough. 3: chronic cough and gastro-oesophageal reflux
  Fontana GA, Pistolesi M.
  Thorax. 2003 Dec;58(12):1092-5. Review
• Handgrip-induced airway dilation in asthmatic patients with bronchoconstriction induced by MCh inhalation
  Fontana GA, Pantaleo T, Lavorini F, Bongianni F, Mannelli M, Bridge PD, Pistolesi M.
  J Appl Physiol. 2002 Nov;93(5):1723-30
• Water aerosols and cough
  Fontana GA, Lavorini F, Pistolesi M.
  Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2002;15(3):205-11. Review
• Fog-induced respiratory responses are attenuated by nedocromil sodium in humans
  Lavorini F, Fontana GA, Pantaleo T, Camiciottoli G, Castellani W, Maluccio NM, Pistolesi M.
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001 Apr;163(5):1117-20