In 1884, an article appeared in Scientific American describing the use of a carbon monoxide gas chamber for slaughterhouse operations as well as euthanizing a variety of animals.As part of the Holocaust during World War II, the Nazis used gas vans at Chelmno extermination camp and elsewhere to murder an estimated over 700,000 people by carbon monoxide poisoning. This method was also used in the gas chambers of several death camps such as Treblinka, Sobibor, and Belzec. Gassing with carbon monoxide started in Action T4. The gas was supplied by IG Farben in pressurized cylinders and fed by tubes into the gas chambers built at various mental hospitals, such as Hartheim Euthanasia Centre. Exhaust fumes from tank engines, for example, were used to supply the gas to the chambers.Recently, carbon monoxide gas chambers have been used to facilitate capital punishment exemplified by execution practices at the San Quentin State Prison. Physiology
Carbon monoxide is produced naturally by many physiologically relevant enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions best exemplified by heme oxygenase catalyzing the biotransformation of heme (an iron protoporphyrin) into biliverdin and eventually bilirubin. Aside from physiological signaling, most carbon monoxide is stored as carboxyhemoglobin at non-toxic levels below 3% HbCO. Therapeutics
Small amounts of CO are beneficial and enzymes exist that produce it at times of oxidative stress. A variety of drugs are being developed to introduce small amounts of CO, these drugs are commonly called carbon monoxide-releasing molecules.
Management
If the patient has a known allergen or trigger for the eosinophilic bronchitis, the recommended treatment is to avoid the triggers. If the cause of the eosinophilic bronchitis is unknown, the first line treatment is inhaled corticosteroids. Patients respond well to inhaled corticosteroids and their eosinophil counts in their sputum usually decrease after treatment.There has not been a study to determine the ideal dosage of inhaled corticosteroids for patients with eosinophilic bronchitis, and there is no consensus on whether the treatment should be discontinued once the patients symptoms resolve or to continue long-term. The use of oral corticosteroids for eosinophilic bronchitis is rare, but it may be considered when inhaled corticosteroids are ineffective in managing the symptoms. Epidemiology
Approximately 10–30% of people who present with a chronic cough are suspected to be symptomatic due to eosinophilic bronchitis. == References ==