Buildings, Beneficial Microbes, and Health

Jordan Peccia

, 

Sarah E. Kwan

Publication stage: In Press Corrected Proof

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2016.04.007

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Bacteria and fungi in buildings exert an influence on the human microbiome through aerosol deposition, surface contact, and human and animal interactions. As the identities and functions of beneficial human microbes emerge, the consequences of building design, operation, and function must be understood to maintain the health of occupants in buildings.

Keywords:

beneficial microbes, indoor air, asthma, human microbiome, indoor microbiome

In vitro tests for drug hypersensitivity reactions: an ENDA/EAACI Drug Allergy Interest Group position paper

Allergy Volume 71, Issue 8, pages 1103–1134, August 2016

1. C. Mayorga^1,2, 
2. G. Celik³, 
3. P. Rouzaire⁴, 
4. P. Whitaker⁵, 
5. P. Bonadonna⁶, 
6. J. Rodrigues-Cernadas⁷, 
7. A. Vultaggio⁸, 
8. K. Brockow⁹, 
9. J. C. Caubet¹⁰, 
10. J. Makowska¹¹, 
11. A. Nakonechna¹², 
12. A. Romano¹³, 
13. M. I. Montañez¹⁴, 
14. J. J. Laguna¹⁵, 
15. G. Zanoni¹⁶,
16. J. L. Gueant¹⁷, 
17. H. Oude Elberink¹⁸, 
18. J. Fernandez¹⁹, 
19. S. Viel²⁰, 
20. P. Demoly²¹, 
21. M. J. Torres^2,* and
22. on behalf of In vitro tests for Drug Allergy Task Force of EAACI Drug Interest Group
23. • Abstract
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    Abstract

    Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are a matter of great concern, both for outpatient and in hospital care. The evaluation of these patients is complex, because in vivo tests have a suboptimal sensitivity and can be time-consuming, expensive and potentially risky, especially drug provocation tests. There are several currently available in vitro methods that can be classified into two main groups: those that help to characterize the active phase of the reaction and those that help to identify the culprit drug.
    

Thumb-Sucking, Nail-Biting, and Atopic Sensitization, Asthma, and Hay Fever

Pediatrics Jul 2016, e20160443; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-0443

Stephanie J. Lynch, Malcolm R. Sears, Robert J. Hancox 

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that early-life exposure to microbial organisms reduces the risk of developing allergies. Thumb-sucking and nail-biting are common childhood habits that may increase microbial exposures. We tested the hypothesis that children who suck their thumbs or bite their nails have a lower risk of developing atopy, asthma, and hay fever in a population-based birth cohort followed to adulthood.

CHI3L1 polymorphisms, cord blood YKL-40 levels and later asthma development

RESEARCH ARTICLE

 

OPEN ACCESS

 

OPEN PEER REVIEW

• Jakob Usemann,
• Urs FreyEmail author,
• Ines Mack,
• Anne Schmidt,
• Olga Gorlanova,
• Martin Röösli,
• Dominik Hartl† and
• Philipp Latzin†

†Contributed equally

BMC Pulmonary MedicineBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201616:81

DOI: 10.1186/s12890-016-0239-8

©  Usemann et al. 2016

Open Peer Review reports

Abstract

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), the gene encoding YKL-40, and increased serum YKL-40 levels are associated with severe forms of asthma. It has never been addressed whether SNPs in CHI3L1 and cord blood YKL-40 levels could already serve as potential biomarkers for milder forms of asthma. We assessed in an unselected population whether SNPs in CHI3L1 and cord blood YKL-40 levels at birth are associated with respiratory symptoms, lung function changes, asthma, and atopy.

Characterizing the inflammatory response in esophageal mucosal biopsies in children with eosinophilic esophagitis

Citation: Clinical & Translational Immunology (2016) 5, e88; doi:10.1038/cti.2016.30Published online 1 July 2016

OPEN

Wael N Sayej¹, Antoine Ménoret², Anu S Maharjan^2,3, Marina Fernandez¹, Zhu Wang⁴, Fabiola Balarezo⁵, Jeffrey S Hyams¹, Francisco A Sylvester^1,2,3,6 and Anthony T Vella^2,6

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging allergic, IgE- and non-IgE (Th2 cell)-mediated disease. There are major gaps in the understanding of the basic mechanisms that drive the persistence of EoE. We investigated whether esophageal biopsies from children with EoE demonstrate an inflammatory response that is distinct from normal controls. We prospectively enrolled 84 patients, of whom 77 were included in our analysis, aged 4–17 years (12.8±3.8 years; 81% males). Five esophageal biopsies were collected from each patient at the time of endoscopy. Intramucosal lymphocytes were isolated, phenotyped and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin to measure their potential to produce cytokines via flow cytometry. We also performed cytokine arrays on 72-h biopsy culture supernatants. CD8⁺ T cells, compared with CD4⁺ T cells, synthesized more TNF-α and interferon (IFN)-γ after mitogen stimulation in the EoE-New/Active vs EoE-Remission group (P=0.0098;P=0.02) and controls (P=0.0008; P=0.03).

Parental smoking and cessation during pregnancy and the risk of childhood asthma

• Maijakaisa HarjuEmail author,
• Leea Keski-Nisula,
• Leena Georgiadis and
• Seppo Heinonen

BMC Public HealthBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201616:428

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3029-6

©  Harju et al. 2016

Open Peer Review reports

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the association between maternal and paternal smoking during pregnancy, and asthma among offspring.

Methods

We conducted a hospital-based birth retrospective observational birth cohort study in a University-based Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. 39 306 women, delivering between 1989 and 2006, were linked to the national register for asthma reimbursement for their offspring (2641 asthmatics). Pregnancy factors were recorded during pregnancy.

Current Trends in Prevalence and Mortality of Anaphylaxis

Current Treatment Options in Allergy pp 1–7

• Ignacio J Ansotegui, 
• Mario Sánchez-Borges, 
• Victoria Cardona 

Opinion Statement

It has not been until the last decade that we have gained insight to the global epidemiology of anaphylaxis, due to the methodological difficulties of such studies. Heterogeneity in definitions, severity grading and study designs have hampered compiling robust data which can be consistently analysed and compared. Also, previous International Classification of Diseases coding for anaphylaxis has been suboptimal further hindering epidemiological studies.

Drug-Induced Anaphylaxis: Clinical Scope, Management, and Prevention

Ensina, L et al. Curr Treat Options Allergy (2016). doi:10.1007/s40521-016-0085-1

• Luis Felipe Ensina, 
• Mara Morelo Rocha Félix, 
• Carolina Sanchez Aranda

1. 
   

Opinion statement

Drug-induced anaphylaxis (DIA) is a severe, life-threatening reaction occurring after drug exposure. It is an important cause of anaphylaxis and accounts for up to one third of drug hypersensitivity reactions. As in other anaphylaxis reactions, immunoglobulin E (IgE) has an important role in its mechanism, but other non-immunological reactions may also occur in DIA. Cutaneous and respiratory symptoms are present in a majority of patients, and cardiovascular events are more common in elderly patients.

Capsaicin Cough Responses in Asthma: Evidence for Airway Neuronal Dysfunction

Article in Press

Imran Satia, M.D.

, 

Nikolaos Tsamandouras, PhD

, 

Kimberley Holt, MPhil

, 

Huda Badri, M.D

, 

Mark Woodhead, M.D

, 

Kayode Ogungbenro, PhD

, 

Timothy W. Felton, PhD

, 

Paul M. O’Byrne, M.D

, 

Stephen J. Fowler, M.D

,

Jaclyn A. Smith, PhD

Open Access

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.04.045

Article Info

Abstract 

Background

Cough in asthma is a common and troublesome symptom. It is generally assumed coughing occurs as a consequence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness and inflammation, but the possibility that airway nerves are dysfunctional has not been fully explored.

Objectives

To investigate capsaicin evoked cough responses in a group of well-characterised mild to moderate asthma patients compared with healthy volunteers, and assess the influences of gender, atopy, lung physiology, inflammation and asthma control on these responses.

Estimating Influenza Outbreaks Using Both Search Engine Query Data and Social Media Data in South Korea

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Published on 04.07.16 in Vol 18, No 7 (2016): July

ABSTRACT

Background: As suggested as early as in 2006, logs of queries submitted to search engines seeking information could be a source for detection of emerging influenza epidemics if changes in the volume of search queries are monitored (infodemiology). However, selecting queries that are most likely to be associated with influenza epidemics is a particular challenge when it comes to generating better predictions.

Objective: In this study, we describe a methodological extension for detecting influenza outbreaks using search query data; we provide a new approach for query selection through the exploration of contextual information gleaned from social media data. Additionally, we evaluate whether it is possible to use these queries for monitoring and predicting influenza epidemics in South Korea.