Effect of Smoking and Time of Day on Eosinophils

The study investigates the effect of acute smoking and time of day on blood eosinophils in chronic smokers. Chronic cigarette smokers without chronic respiratory diseases smoking at least 8 cigarettes per day and never-smoking controls are examined. Blood eosinophil counts and surface molecules are measured at 8 and 12 am in both groups. In smokers, two measurements are performed (at least 4 weeks apart): one measurement with no smoking between 8 and 12 am, and another measurement with smoking of 8 cigarettes between 8 and 12 am.