August 16, 2015

Profile of lebrikizumab and its potential in the treatment of asthma

Authors Maselli DJ, Keyt H, Rogers L
Published Date August 2015 Volume 2015:8 Pages 87—92
Received 11 March 2015Accepted 22 April 2015, Published 10 August 2015
Approved for publication by Dr Amrita Dosanjh
Diego Jose Maselli,1 Holly Keyt,1 Linda Rogers,2
1Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 2Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Mount Sinai-National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA


Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-13 has been associated with multiple inflammatory features of asthma. It affects multiple cellular lines in asthma and is a key mediator in airway hyperreactivity and remodeling. Periostin, an extracellular protein, has been used as a surrogate marker of IL-13 activity and has been linked to airway remodeling by inducing subepithelial fibrosis.

August 14, 2015

Applications of Molecular Diagnostic Testing in Food Allergy

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Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
PMCID: PMC4522270
Abstract
IgE-mediated food allergy is a relevant health problem inducing symptoms ranging from mild local reactions up to severe life-threatening situations. Currently, no immunotherapy is available and avoidance of the incriminating food is the method of choice.

August 10, 2015

Escaping the trap of allergic rhinitis

Review

Open Access

Oliviero Rossi1*Ilaria Massaro2Marco Caminati3Cristina Quecchia4Filippo Fassio5Enrico Heffler6 andGiorgio Walter Canonica7

Abstract
Rhinitis is often the first symptom of allergy but is frequently ignored and classified as a nuisance condition. Ironically it has the greatest socioeconomic burden worldwide caused by its impact on work and on daily life.
However, patients appear reticent to seek professional advice, visiting their doctor only when symptoms become ‘intolerable’ and often when their usual therapy proves ineffective.
Clearly, it’s time for new and more effective allergic rhinitis treatments.
MP29-02 (Dymista®; Meda, Solna, Sweden) is a new class of medication for moderate to severe seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis if monotherapy with either intranasal antihistamine or intranasal corticosteroids is not considered sufficient.

August 6, 2015

Update and clinical utility of alcaftadine ophthalmic solution 0.25% in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

Logo of clinopDove Medical PressThis ArticleSubscribeSubmit a ManuscriptSearchFollowDovepressClinical Ophthalmology
Published online 2015 Jul 8. doi:  10.2147/OPTH.S63790
PMCID: PMC4501164
Abstract
Allergic disorders of the ocular surface are primarily characterized as IgE- and/or T-lymphocyte-mediated disorders that affect the cornea, conjunctiva, and eyelid. Approximately 40% of individuals in the developed countries have allergic conjunctivitis, and as such, it is the most common form of ocular allergy.

Allergy in Children in Hand Versus Machine Dishwashing

  • Göran Wennergren, MD, PhDa,c
  • +Author Affiliations
    1. aPaediatric Allergology, Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden;
    2. bVästra Götaland Healthcare Department, Follow-up and Analysis Unit, Gothenburg, Sweden;
    3. cDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; and
    4. dVästra Frölunda Paediatric Outpatient Clinic, Västra Frölunda, Sweden

    ABSTRACT

    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The hygiene hypothesis stipulates that microbial exposure during early life induces immunologic tolerance via immune stimulation, and hence reduces the risk of allergy development. Several common lifestyle factors and household practices, such as dishwashing methods, may increase microbial exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate if such lifestyle factors are associated with allergy prevalence.

    August 4, 2015

    Innate lymphocyte cells in asthma phenotypes

    Review

    Open Access

    Leyla Pur Ozyigit1*Hideaki Morita23 and Mubeccel Akdis23

    Abstract
    T helper type 2 (T H 2) cells were previously thought to be the main initiating effector cell type in asthma; however, exaggerated T H2 cell activities alone were insufficient to explain all aspects of asthma. Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome comprising different phenotypes that are characterized by their different clinical features, treatment responses, and inflammation patterns.

    What pulmonologists think about the asthma–COPD overlap syndrome

    Authors Miravitlles M, Alcázar B, Alvarez FJ, BazĂşs T, Calle M, Casanova C, Cisneros C, de-Torres JP, Entrenas LM, Esteban C, GarcĂ­a-Sidro P, Cosio BG, Huerta A, Iriberri M, Izquierdo JL, LĂłpez-Viña A, LĂłpez-Campos JL, MartĂ­nez-MoragĂłn E, PĂ©rez de Llano L, Perpiñá M, Ros JA, Serrano J, Soler-Cataluña JJ, Torrego A, Urrutia I, Plaza V
    Published Date July 2015 Volume 2015:10(1) Pages 1321—1330
    Received 15 May 2015Accepted 23 June 2015, Published 15 July 2015
    Peer reviewers approved by Dr Hsiao-Chi Chuang
    Approved for publication by Dr Richard Russell

    Background: Some patients with COPD may share characteristics of asthma; this is the so-called asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There are no universally accepted criteria for ACOS, and most treatments for asthma and COPD have not been adequately tested in this population.
    Materials and methods: We performed a survey among pulmonology specialists in asthma and COPD aimed at collecting their opinions about ACOS and their attitudes in regard to some case scenarios of ACOS patients. The participants answered a structured questionnaire and attended a face-to-face meeting with the Metaplan methodology to discuss different aspects of ACOS.

    Clinical contraindications to allergen immunotherapy: an EAACI position paper


    1. C. Pitsios1,*
    2. P. Demoly2,3
    3. M. B. Bilò4
    4. R. Gerth van Wijk5
    5. O. Pfaar6,7
    6. G. J. Sturm8,
    7. P. Rodriguez del Rio9
    8. M. Tsoumani10
    9. R. Gawlik11
    10. G. Paraskevopoulos12
    11. F. Ruëff13
    12. E. Valovirta14
    13. N. G. Papadopoulos15,16and
    14. M. A. CalderĂłn17

    Abstract
    Clinical indications for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in respiratory and Hymenoptera venom allergy are well established; however, clinical contraindications to AIT are not always well documented. There are some discrepancies when classifying clinical contraindications for different forms of AIT as ‘absolute’ or ‘relative’. EAACI Task Force on ‘Contraindications to AIT’ was created to evaluate and review current literature on clinical contraindications, and to update recommendations for both sublingual and subcutaneous AIT for respiratory and venom immunotherapy.

    August 3, 2015

    Allergy immunotherapy with a hypoallergenic recombinant birch pollen allergen rBet v 1-FV in a randomized controlled trial

    Research
    Open Access

    Ludger Klimek1*Claus Bachert2Karl-Friedrich Lukat3Oliver Pfaar5Hanns Meyer4 and Annemie Narkus4

    Abstract (provisional)
    Background Pollen extracts and chemically modified allergoids are used successfully in allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Recombinant extracts offer potential advantages with respect to pharmaceutical quality, standardization and dosing. A hypoallergenic recombinant folding variant of the major birch pollen allergen (rBet v 1-FV) was compared with an established native birch preparation.

    Protocadherin-1 is a glucocorticoid-responsive critical regulator of airway epithelial barrier function

    Research article

    Open Access

    Yutaka Kozu1Yasuhiro Gon1*Shuichiro Maruoka1Kuroda Kazumichi2Akiko Sekiyama1Hiroyuki Kishi3Yasuyuki Nomura3Minoru Ikeda3 and Shu Hashimoto1

    Impaired epithelial barrier function renders the airway vulnerable to environmental triggers associated with the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We investigated the influence of protocadherin-1 (PCDH1), a susceptibility gene for bronchial hyperresponsiveness, on airway epithelial barrier function.
    We applied transepithelial electric resistance and dextran permeability testing to evaluate the barrier function of cultured airway epithelial cells. We studied PCDH1 function by siRNA-mediated knockdown and analyzed nasal or bronchial tissues from 16 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and nine patients with bronchial asthma for PCDH1 expression.

    Consensus communication on early peanut introduction and the prevention of peanut allergy in high-risk infants

    Position article and guidelines

    Open Access

    David M. Fleischer1Scott Sicherer2Matthew Greenhawt3Dianne Campbell4Edmond S. Chan5*Antonella Muraro6,Susanne Halken6Yitzhak Katz7Motohiro Ebisawa8Lawrence Eichenfield9Hugh Sampson10For the Leap Study Team and Secondary Contributors

    Abstract (provisional)
    The purpose of this brief communication is to highlight emerging evidence to existing guidelines regarding potential benefits of supporting early, rather than delayed, peanut introduction during the period of complementary food introduction in infants.

    Early childhood wheezers: identifying asthma in later life


    Abstract

    Wheeze in young children is common, and asthma is the most common noncommunicable disease in children. Prevalence studies of recurrent asthma-like symptoms in children under the age of 5 years have reported that one third of children in the US and Europe are affected, and rates and severity appear to be higher in developing countries.