December 8, 2016

Targeting integrin α5β1 ameliorates severe airway hyperresponsiveness in experimental asthma

Aparna Sundaram,1 Chun Chen,1 Amin Khalifeh-Soltani,2 Amha Atakilit,1 Xin Ren,1 Wenli Qiu,1 Hyunil Jo,3 William DeGrado,3 Xiaozhu Huang,1 and Dean Sheppard1

Abstract
Treatment options are limited for severe asthma, and the need for additional therapies remains great. Previously, we demonstrated that integrin αvβ6-deficient mice are protected from airway hyperresponsiveness, due in part to increased expression of the murine ortholog of human chymase. Here, we determined that chymase protects against cytokine-enhanced bronchoconstriction by cleaving fibronectin to impair tension transmission in airway smooth muscle (ASM).

December 6, 2016

From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: Treatment targets for plaque psoriasis

Background

An urgent need exists in the United States to establish treatment goals in psoriasis.

Objective

We aim to establish defined treatment targets toward which clinicians and patients with psoriasis can strive to inform treatment decisions, reduce disease burden, and improve outcomes in practice.

Methods

The National Psoriasis Foundation conducted a consensus-building study among psoriasis experts using the Delphi method. The process consisted of: (1) literature review, (2) pre-Delphi question selection and input from general dermatologists and patients, and (3) 4 Delphi rounds.

December 5, 2016

Applying Multiple Data Collection Tools to Quantify Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Communication on Twitter

Journal of Medical Internet Research 
Vol 18, No 12 (2016): December




Original Paper

1Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
2Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
3Microsoft Research Israel, Herzeliya, Israel
4Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
*all authors contributed equally
ABSTRACT
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. There are several vaccines that protect against strains of HPV most associated with cervical and other cancers. Thus, HPV vaccination has become an important component of adolescent preventive health care. As media evolves, more information about HPV vaccination is shifting to social media platforms such as Twitter. Health information consumed on social media may be especially influential for segments of society such as younger populations, as well as ethnic and racial minorities.

December 2, 2016

An eHealth Project on Invasive Pneumococcal Disease: Comprehensive Evaluation of a Promotional Campaign

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Published on 02.12.16 in Vol 18, No 12 (2016): December

1Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
2Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
*these authors contributed equally

ABSTRACT
Background: The recently launched Pneumo Rischio eHealth project, which consists of an app, a website, and social networking activity, is aimed at increasing public awareness of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The launch of this project was prompted by the inadequate awareness of IPD among both laypeople and health care workers, the heavy socioeconomic burden of IPD, and the far from optimal vaccination coverage in Italy, despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines.

November 28, 2016

Severe asthma: anti-IgE or anti-IL-5?







. 2016; 3: 10.3402/ecrj.v3.31813.
Published online 2016 Nov 7. doi:  10.3402/ecrj.v3.31813
PMCID: PMC5102127
Abstract
Severe asthma is a discrete clinical entity characterised by recurrent exacerbations, reduced quality of life and poor asthma control as ordinary treatment regimens remain inadequate. Difficulty in managing severe asthma derives partly from the multiple existing phenotypes and our inability to recognise them. Though the exact pathogenetic pathway of severe allergic asthma remains unclear, it is known that numerous inflammatory cells and cytokines are involved, and eosinophils represent a key inflammatory cell mediator. Anti-IgE (omalizumab) and anti-IL-5 (mepolizumab) antibodies are biological agents that interfere in different steps of the Th2 inflammatory cascade and are licensed in severe asthma.

November 25, 2016

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Interleukin-5 Therapy in Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Wang FP1Liu T1Lan Z2Li SY3Mao H1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Recent trials have assessed the efficacy and safety of novel monoclonal antibodies such as reslizumab and benralizumab. However, the overall efficacy and safety anti-interleukin (IL) 5 treatment in asthma have not been thoroughly assessed.