Possible novel approach to therapy

Natural Relaxant Protects Against Asthma, May Yield New Therapy
Durham, N.C. – A substance that naturally opens airways also offers protection against asthma, a condition that affects about 15 million people in the United States, including five million children, according to Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The findings suggest that impaired airway relaxation -- as opposed to active constriction -- may be a more important cause of asthma than previously recognized. The results may also yield a novel approach to therapy, the researchers said.