Letters to Editor
from the means is too large in both the groups. One can expect a significant difference in the means of the hs‑CRP values in the two groups, if reanalysis of the data is done using non‑parametric tests. This is expected to change the conclusion drawn by the authors. I hope the authors will take these issues in the best interest of science and respond for the benefit of the readers of this esteemed journal.
REFERENCES 1. 2.
Ramasamy AK, Gupta N, Kumar R. Impact of obesity on bronchial asthma in Indian population. Lung India 2014;31:121‑6. Gupta PR. Asthma in the obese: Yet another reason to lose weight. Lung India 2008;25:1‑3.
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Website: www.lungindia.com
Prahlad Rai Gupta
DOI:
Department of Respiratory Medicine, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India E‑mail: [email protected]
10.4103/0970-2113.148468
Response to the comments on impact on bronchial asthma in Indian population Sir, Thanks for sharing the letter to editor with us. We appreciate the efforts of the commenter in going through the article published by us and also making us aware about his editorial published in 2008. Further we also appreciate in bringing out the key remarks regarding our article published in April 2014 issue of Lung India. We would like to answer the queries as follows. • The study was conducted in a limited time period and hence only a small number of patients could be enrolled • The non‑obese and obese patients were enrolled in the study over a limited time period and hence we could not get the age‑and sex‑matched controls. Moreover, there was no statistical significant difference in mean age of the two groups • The data is sufficiently large; normality assumption test was applied before conducting the t test. The test (null hypothesis) was accepted and normality assumption was satisfied. Hence, we proceeded with the t test. The data has been analyzed by the statistician, who has a better knowledge about statistical analysis. The authors of the paper understand that the small sample size is the limitation of the study, and hence have concluded in the study that further large‑scale studies are required to solve the complex interaction of inflammation, obesity and asthma. In his editorial, the commenter has cited animal studies only, in the context of inflammatory mediators in obese asthmatics. It is a well‑known fact that the animal studies
cannot be exactly extended to the humans. Further page 2 para 3 of commenter’s editorial writes “conflicting data are available as to whether obesity increases asthma severity.” We understand the complex issue and this may be one of the few study published from India. We have already concluded our paper with the following last line “Thus further large scale studies are required to solve the complex interaction of inflammation, obesity and asthma.” Hope this will satisfy our readers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. M Rehman for his commendable contribution towards statistical analysis.
Anandha K Ramasamy, Nitesh Gupta, Raj Kumar Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology, National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India E-mail: [email protected] Access this article online Quick Response Code:
Website: www.lungindia.com DOI: 10.4103/0970-2113.148469
Lung India • Vol 32 • Issue 1 • Jan - Feb 2015 93
Copyright of Lung India is the property of Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
from the means is too large in both the groups. One can expect a significant difference in the means of the hs‑CRP values in the two groups, if reanalysis of the data is done using non‑parametric tests. This is expected to change the conclusion drawn by the authors. I hope the authors will take these issues in the best interest of science and respond for the benefit of the readers of this esteemed journal.
REFERENCES 1. 2.
Ramasamy AK, Gupta N, Kumar R. Impact of obesity on bronchial asthma in Indian population. Lung India 2014;31:121‑6. Gupta PR. Asthma in the obese: Yet another reason to lose weight. Lung India 2008;25:1‑3.
Access this article online Quick Response Code:
Website: www.lungindia.com
Prahlad Rai Gupta
DOI:
Department of Respiratory Medicine, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India E‑mail: [email protected]
10.4103/0970-2113.148468
Response to the comments on impact on bronchial asthma in Indian population Sir, Thanks for sharing the letter to editor with us. We appreciate the efforts of the commenter in going through the article published by us and also making us aware about his editorial published in 2008. Further we also appreciate in bringing out the key remarks regarding our article published in April 2014 issue of Lung India. We would like to answer the queries as follows. • The study was conducted in a limited time period and hence only a small number of patients could be enrolled • The non‑obese and obese patients were enrolled in the study over a limited time period and hence we could not get the age‑and sex‑matched controls. Moreover, there was no statistical significant difference in mean age of the two groups • The data is sufficiently large; normality assumption test was applied before conducting the t test. The test (null hypothesis) was accepted and normality assumption was satisfied. Hence, we proceeded with the t test. The data has been analyzed by the statistician, who has a better knowledge about statistical analysis. The authors of the paper understand that the small sample size is the limitation of the study, and hence have concluded in the study that further large‑scale studies are required to solve the complex interaction of inflammation, obesity and asthma. In his editorial, the commenter has cited animal studies only, in the context of inflammatory mediators in obese asthmatics. It is a well‑known fact that the animal studies
cannot be exactly extended to the humans. Further page 2 para 3 of commenter’s editorial writes “conflicting data are available as to whether obesity increases asthma severity.” We understand the complex issue and this may be one of the few study published from India. We have already concluded our paper with the following last line “Thus further large scale studies are required to solve the complex interaction of inflammation, obesity and asthma.” Hope this will satisfy our readers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. M Rehman for his commendable contribution towards statistical analysis.
Anandha K Ramasamy, Nitesh Gupta, Raj Kumar Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology, National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India E-mail: [email protected] Access this article online Quick Response Code:
Website: www.lungindia.com DOI: 10.4103/0970-2113.148469
Lung India • Vol 32 • Issue 1 • Jan - Feb 2015 93
Copyright of Lung India is the property of Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
