Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

January 26, 2018

Role of airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in pathogenesis of asthma

Allergology International

Volume 67, Issue 1, January 2018, Pages 12-17

Yasuhiro Gon

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, Shu Hashimoto

Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Open Access

Bronchial asthma is characterized by persistent cough, increased sputum, and repeated wheezing. The pathophysiology underlying these symptoms is the hyper-responsiveness of the airway along with chronic airway inflammation. Repeated injury, repair, and regeneration of the airway epithelium following exposure to environmental factors and inflammation results in histological changes and functional abnormalities in the airway mucosal epithelium; such changes are believed to have a significant association with the pathophysiology of asthma. Damage to the barrier functions of the airway epithelium enhances mucosal permeability of foreign substances in the airway epithelium of patients with asthma. Thus, epithelial barrier fragility is closely involved in releasing epithelial cytokines (e.g., TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33) because of the activation of airway epithelial cells, dendritic cells, and innate group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). Functional abnormalities of the airway epithelial cells along with the activation of dendritic cells, Th2 cells, and ILC2 form a single immunopathological unit that is considered to cause allergic airway inflammation. Here we use the latest published literature to discuss the potential pathological mechanisms regarding the onset and progressive severity of asthma with regard to the disruption of the airway epithelial function.

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January 24, 2018

Profile of dupilumab and its potential in the treatment of inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis

REVIEW

Authors Awosika O, Kim L, Mazhar M, Rengifo-Pardo M, Ehrlich A

Published 24 January 2018 Volume 2018:11 Pages 41—49

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S123329

Olabola Awosika,¹ Lori Kim,² Momina Mazhar,² Monica Rengifo-Pardo,^1,2 Alison Ehrlich^1,2

¹Department of Dermatology, The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates, Washington, DC, USA; ²George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that manifests as eczematous lesions, often associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Evaluation of Potential Continuation Rules for Mepolizumab Treatment of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma

Necdet B. Gunsoy, PhD

Correspondence information about the author PhD Necdet B. Gunsoy

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Sarah M. Cockle, PhD

Steven W. Yancey, MSc

Oliver N. Keene, MSc

Eric S. Bradford, MD

Frank C. Albers, PhD

Ian D. Pavord, FMedSci

Open Access

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2017.11.026

Article Info

Background

Mepolizumab significantly reduces exacerbations in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. The early identification of patients likely to receive long-term benefit from treatment could ensure effective resource allocation.

Objective

To assess potential continuation rules for mepolizumab in addition to initiation criteria defined as 2 or more exacerbations in the previous year and blood eosinophil counts of 150 cells/μL or more at initiation or 300 cells/μL or more in the previous year.

Association of Disease Severity With Skin Microbiome and Filaggrin Gene Mutations in Adult Atopic Dermatitis

Key Points

Question Is the skin microbiome in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) associated with disease severity and filaggrin gene mutations?

Findings In this case-control study, bacterial diversity (alpha diversity) of the skin microbiome in patients with AD was inversely correlated with disease severity for both lesional and nonlesional skin. Skin microbiome composition (beta diversity) in nonlesional skin of patients with AD was linked to the presence of filaggrin gene mutations.

Meaning The findings of this study suggest that the severity of AD influences the skin microbiome globally, even in nonlesional skin. Furthermore, our findings propose a possible association between skin microbiome and host genetics.

The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease

State of the Art ReviewBMJ 2018; 360 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5145 (Published 08 January 2018)Cite this as: BMJ 2018;360:j51452018;360:j5145

1. Jose C Clemente, assistant professor1,
2. Julia Manasson, medical doctor2,
3. Jose U Scher, assistant professor2

Author affiliations

ABSTRACT

The role of the gut microbiome in models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease is now well characterized. Renewed interest in the human microbiome and its metabolites, as well as notable advances in host mucosal immunology, has opened multiple avenues of research to potentially modulate inflammatory responses.

Public health

Abstract

Objective To assess birth outcomes in primiparous women with diagnosis of non-asthmatic atopy (NAA). Researchers hypothesised that women with NAA would have reduced the risk of adverse birth outcomes compared with women without NAA. NAA is defined as having allergic rhinitis and/or atopic dermatitis.

Setting Women were mostly treated in primary care settings in South Carolina, USA.

Reference values for spirometry in elderly individuals: a cross-sectional study of different reference equations

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine

Original research article

Open Access

Joana BeloEmail author,

Teresa Palmeiro,

Iolanda Caires,

Ana L. Papoila,

Marta Alves,

Pedro Carreiro-Martins,

Maria A. Botelho and

Nuno Neuparth

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine201813:4

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40248-017-0112-5

Abstract

Background

Spirometry is the single most important test for the evaluation of respiratory function. The results are interpreted by comparing measured data with predicted values previously obtained from a reference population. Reference equations for spirometry have been discussed previously.