The airway microbiome in patients with severe asthma: Associations with disease features and severity

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015 Jul 25. pii: S0091-6749(15)00838-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.05.044. [Epub ahead of print]

Huang YJ1, Nariya S2, Harris JM3, Lynch SV4, Choy DF3, Arron JR3, Boushey H2.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Asthma is heterogeneous, and airway dysbiosis is associated with clinical features in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. Whether similar relationships exist among patients with severe asthma is unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to evaluate relationships between the bronchial microbiome and features of severe asthma.

Vaccination recommendations for adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Silja Bühlera, Gilles Eperonb, Camillo Ribic, Diego Kyburzd, Fons van Gompele, Leo G. Visserf, Claire-Anne Siegristg, Christoph Hatza,h

a Department of Public Health, Division of Infectious Disease / Travel Clinic, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
b Service de Médecine Tropicale et Humanitaire, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
c Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
d Department of Rheumatology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
e Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
f Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
g Centre for Vaccinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
h Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Medicine and Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland

Summary

BACKGROUND: The number of individuals with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) treated with immunosuppressive drugs is increasing steadily. The variety of immunosuppressive drugs and, in particular, biological therapies is also rising. The immunosuppressants, as well as the AIIRD itself, increase the risk of infection in this population. Thus, preventing infections by means of vaccination is of utmost importance. New Swiss vaccination recommendations for AIIRD patients were initiated by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and prepared by a working group of the Federal Commission for Vaccination Issues as well as by consultation of international experts.

EAACI IG Biologicals task force paper on the use of biologic agents in allergic disorders

Allergy. 2015 Jul;70(7):727-54. doi: 10.1111/all.12616. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Boyman O1, Kaegi C1, Akdis M2,3, Bavbek S4, Bossios A5, Chatzipetrou A6, Eiwegger T7, Firinu D8, Harr T9, Knol E10, Matucci A11, Palomares O12, Schmidt-Weber C13, Simon HU14, Steiner UC15, Vultaggio A11, Akdis CA2,3, Spertini F16

Abstract: Biologic agents (also termed biologicals or biologics) are therapeutics that are synthesized by living organisms and directed against a specific determinant, for example, a cytokine or receptor. In inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, biologicals have revolutionized the treatment of several immune-mediated disorders. 

Allergen Skin Prick Testing in Early Childhood: Reproducibility and Prediction of Allergic Symptoms into Early Adulthood

February 2015 Volume 166, Issue 2, Pages 401–406.e1

Maria Pesonen, MD, PhD

,

 Markku J.T. Kallio, MD, PhD

,

 Martti A. Siimes, MD

,

 Annamari Ranki, MD, PhD

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.10.009

 |

Article Info

• Abstract
• Full Text
• Images
• References

Objective

To assess the predictive value of skin prick testing in early childhood on subsequent allergic symptoms up to adult age.

The relation of autologous serum and plasma skin test results with urticarial activity score, sex and age in patients with chronic urticaria

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015 Jun;32(3):173-8. doi: 10.5114/pdia.2015.48057. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Aktar S1, Akdeniz N2, Ozkol HU3, Calka O3, Karadag AS2.

• 1Department of Dermatology, Diyarbakır Research and Training Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Head of the Department: Sirac Aktar.
• 2Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Head of the Department: Necmettin Akdeniz.
• 3Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. Head of the Department: Omer Calka.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Some previous studies reported autoimmunity as an etiologic factor in chronic urticaria (CU), but the results of some autoimmunity tests in these studies are conflicting.

AIM:

To concretize whether there was any relation of autologous serum skin test (ASST) and autologous plasma skin test (APST) results with sex, age and urticarial activity score (UAS) in patients with CU.

Population-based study of the association between asthma and pneumococcal disease in children

Authors Shea KM, Lash TL, Antonsen S, Jick SS, Sørensen HT

Published Date July 2015 Volume 2015:7 Pages 325—334

DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S78619

Kimberly M Shea,1,2 Timothy L Lash,3,4 Sussie Antonsen,4 Susan S Jick,1,5 Henrik T Sørensen1,4

1Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 2Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 3Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; 4Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 5Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

Background: Although asthma has recently been established as a risk factor for pneumococcal disease (PD), few studies have specifically evaluated this association in children.

Suppressive functions of B cells in infectious diseases

1. Ping Shen and 
2. Simon Fillatreau

1. Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, a Leibniz Institute, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
   .

Abstract

B lymphocytes are often essential to successfully control invading pathogens and play a primary role in the protection afforded by successful vaccines through the production of specific antibodies. However, recent studies have highlighted the complex roles of B cells in infectious diseases, showing unexpectedly that some activated B cells limited host defense towards pathogens.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on lung volumes and mechanical properties of the respiratory system in overweight and obese individuals

Research article

Arikin Abdeyrim¹², Yongping Zhang¹², Nanfang Li^12*, Minghua Zhao³, Yinchun Wang⁴, Xiaoguang Yao⁵, Youledusi Keyoumu⁶ and Ting Yin⁴

BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2015, 15:76  doi:10.1186/s12890-015-0063-6

Abstract

Background

Even through narrowing of the upper-airway plays an important role in the generation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the peripheral airways is implicated in pre-obese and obese OSA patients, as a result of decreased lung volume and increased lung elastic recoil pressure, which, in turn, may aggravate upper-airway collapsibility.

Cough hypersensitivity as a neuro-immune interaction

Review

Woo-Jung Song^12* and Yoon-Seok Chang¹²³

Clinical and Translational Allergy 2015, 5:24  doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0069-4

Abstract

Cough is an intrinsic protective reflex. However, chronic cough affects a considerable proportion of general population and has a major impact on quality of life. A recent paradigm shift to ‘cough hypersensitivity syndrome’ suggests that chronic cough arises from hypersensitivity of the airway sensory nerves.

Addition of Montelukast to Low-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroid Leads to Fewer Exacerbations in Older Patients

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015 Sep;7(5):440-448. English. Young-Min Ye,1 Sang-Ha Kim,2 Gyu-Young Hur,3 Joo-Hee Kim,4 Jung-Won Park,5 Jae Jeong Shim,3 Ki-Suck Jung,4 Hyun-Young Lee,1 Hae-Sim Park,1 and PRANA Group Abstract Purpose There have been few reports regarding the efficacy of antiasthmatics in older patients. To compare the efficacy of the addition of montelukast to low-dose inhaled budesonide (MON-400BUD) versus increasing the dose of inhaled steroid (800BUD) on asthma control in older asthmatics.

Engineered metal based nanoparticles and innate immunity

Review

Claudia Petrarca¹, Emanuela Clemente², Valentina Amato¹, Paola Pedata³, Enrico Sabbioni¹, Giovanni Bernardini⁴⁵,Ivo Iavicoli⁶, Sara Cortese², Qiao Niu⁷, Takemi Otsuki⁸, Roberto Paganelli¹² and Mario Di Gioacchino^12*

Clinical and Molecular Allergy 2015, 13:13  doi:10.1186/s12948-015-0020-1

Abstract

Almost all people in developed countries are exposed to metal nanoparticles (MeNPs) that are used in a large number of applications including medical (for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes). Once inside the body, absorbed by inhalation, contact, ingestion and injection, MeNPs can translocate to tissues and, as any foreign substance, are likely to encounter the innate immunity system that represent a non-specific first line of defense against potential threats to the host. In this review, we will discuss the possible effects of MeNPs on various components of the innate immunity (both specific cells and barriers).

Food dependant exercise induced anaphylaxis a retrospective study from 2 allergy clinics in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Case report

Nilhan Rajiva de Silva^1*, Wasala Mudiyanselage Dhanushka Kumari Dasanayake¹, Chandima Karunatilleke¹ andGathsauri Neelika Malavige²

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2015, 11:22  doi:10.1186/s13223-015-0089-6

Abstract

The aetiology of anaphylaxis ranges from food, insect venom, drugs and various chemicals. Some individuals do not develop anaphylaxis with the offending agent unless ingestion is related temporally to physical exertion, namely food dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA).

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study to investigate different dosing regimens of olodaterol delivered via Respimat® in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma

Research

Kai-Michael Beeh^1*, Craig LaForce², Martina Gahlemann³, Arne Wenz⁴, Robert Toorawa⁵ and Matjaž Fležar⁶

Respiratory Research 2015, 16:87  doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0243-1

Abstract

Background

A Phase II, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial comparing the 24-h forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV ₁ ) time profile after 3 weeks’ treatment with once-daily (QD) or twice-daily (BID) olodaterol (at the same total daily dose) versus placebo delivered via Respimat® in patients with moderate to severe asthma.

In Vitro Evaluation of Allergen Potencies of Commercial House Dust Mite Sublingual Immunotherapy Reagents

Original Article  Open Access

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015 Mar;7(2):124-129. English. Kyung Hee Park,1 Mina Son,1 Soo-Young Choi,1 Hey Jung Park,1 Jae-Hyun Lee,1 Kyoung Yong Jeong,1 Joo-Shil Lee,2 and Jung-Won Park1 Abstract Purpose The clinical efficacy of allergen-immunotherapy is known to be dose dependent. However, optimal maintenance dosage has not yet been determined for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Furthermore, since companies adopt their own units for expression of allergenicity, the allergen concentrations of individual reagents cannot be compared easily. We sought to measure and compare the allergenicities of 3 commercially available house dust mite (HDM) SLIT regents and a subcutaneous immunotherapy reagent.

Activation of the Intrinsic Coagulation Pathway in Patients With Chronic Urticaria

Original Article  Open Access

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015 Sep;7(5):476-482. English. Published online May 22, 2015.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4168/aair.2015.7.5.476

Jung-Ah Kim,1, Sujeoung Kim,2,3, Ji-Eun Kim,1,4 Ja-Yoon Gu,1,4 Hyun Ju Yoo,1,4 Hye-Ryun Kang,2 and Hyun Kyung Kim1,4

Abstract

Purpose Although coagulation activation has been reported in chronic urticaria, data pertaining to detailed changes in coagulation factors and global coagulation status are lacking. The current study evaluated global coagulation status in patients with chronic urticaria using thrombin generation assay (TGA) and the levels of individual coagulation factors.