Circulating Vitamin D levels status and clinical prognostic indices in COVID-19 patients

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Alberto Ricci, 
• Alessandra Pagliuca, 
• Michela D’Ascanio, 
• Marta Innammorato, 
• Claudia De Vitis, 
• Rita Mancini, 
• Simonetta Giovagnoli, 
• Francesco Facchiano, 
• Bruno Sposato, 
• Paolo Anibaldi, 
• Adriano Marcolongo, 
• Chiara De Dominicis, 
• Andrea Laghi, 
• Emanuele Muscogiuri & 
• Salvatore Sciacchitano 

Respiratory Research volume 22, Article number: 76 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Several immune mechanisms activate in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Usually, coronavirus infection is characterized by dysregulated host immune responses, interleukine-6 increase, hyper-activation of cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes. Interestingly, Vitamin D deficiency has been often associated with altered immune responses and infections. In the present study, we evaluated Vitamin D plasma levels in patients affected with different lung involvement during COVID-19 infection.

Heart rate recovery in asthmatic children and adolescents after clinical field test

• Research article
• Open Access
• 
  

Élida Pereira Silva, 

Bruno Alvarenga Soares, 

Mariana M. Reimberg, 

Raphael Ritti-Dias, 

Karina Silva Nascimento, 

Fabiana Silvia Anjos, 

Gustavo Falbo Wandalsen, 

Dirceu Solé, 

Simone Dal Corso & 

Fernanda Cordoba Lanza 

BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 21, Article number: 61 (2021) 

Abstract

Background

Inflammation caused by chronic lung disease in childhood may lead to delayed heart rate recovery (HRR) however, there is lack of evidence on HRR in this population. The aim was to assess HRR after functional capacity testing in asthmatic children and adolescents and to compare with severity and disease control.

Association between peripheral lymphocyte count and the mortality risk of COVID-19 inpatients

• Research article
• Open Access

• BMC Pulmonary Medicine

• Saibin Wang, 
• Yijun Sheng, 
• Junwei Tu & 
• Lanlan Zhang 

volume
details

BMC Pulmonary Medicine  21, Article number: 55 (2021) 

Abstract

Background

To explore the relationship between peripheral lymphocyte counts (PLCs) and the mortality risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the potential of PLC for predicting COVID-19 hospitalized patients death.

Long-term outcomes of 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops in eyes with severe allergic conjunctival diseases

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Hiroyuki Yazu, 
• Kazumi Fukagawa, 
• Eisuke Shimizu, 
• Yasunori Sato & 
• Hiroshi Fujishima 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 11 (2021)

• details

Abstract

Background

Because atopic dermatitis does not heal completely, associated severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) often require long-term treatment. This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes of using 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops to treat these severe allergic conjunctival diseases.

Methods

Two-hundred-and-seventy eyes of 135 patients diagnosed with AKC or VKC from April 2004 to April 2014 were screened retrospectively. Patient demographics and objective signs were extracted from the electronic medical records.

Successful sublingual immunotherapy for severe egg allergy in children: a case report

 Case report Open Access

• Nagatoshi Sagara, 
• Satoshi Fujita, 
• Ryohei Suzuki, 
• Akiko Aota, 
• Kenichi Akashi & 
• Toshio Katsunuma 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 2 (2021) 

Abstract

Background

Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children. To date, oral immunotherapy (OIT) has been considered as a promising treatment option for egg allergy. However, safety issues remain concerning severe adverse events requiring epinephrine injection. Hence, establishing a safer method to treat egg allergy would be beneficial. We report here two children with egg allergy who were safely treated with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) before transitioning to OIT.

Utility of basophil activation test for predicting the outcome of wheezing in children: a pilot study

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Jingyang Li, 
• Jinhong Wu, 
• Haipei Liu, 
• Li Hua, 
• Quanhua Liu, 
• Dingzhu Fang, 
• Yi Chen, 
• Ruoxu Ji, 
• Jianhua Zhang & 
• Wenwei Zhong 

BMC Immunology volume 22, Article number: 4 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

No reliable biological marker for the diagnosis of asthma in younger children is currently available. In this study, we analyzed the differences in basophil activation test (BAT) results among children with recurrent wheezing episodes who had different asthma outcomes.

Results

Flow cytometry analysis of CD63-based BAT. 

A prospective cohort study was conducted in children aged under 5 years who visited our pediatric respiratory clinic and ward for wheezing. After enrollment, the participants provided samples for a CD63-based BAT performed using an inhalant allergen mixture as a stimulant. Histories of personal allergic diseases and family allergic diseases were evaluated by using a questionnaire. All participants were followed up for 2 years, and their asthma outcomes were evaluated at the end of the follow-up period. The correlation between the BAT results and asthma outcomes was analyzed. Of the 45 originally enrolled children, 38 completed both the follow-up and a BAT.

Chemokines during anaphylaxis: the importance of CCL2 and CCL2-dependent chemotactic activity for basophils

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

Clinical and Translational Allergy

• Romana Vantur, 
• Marusa Rihar, 
• Ana Koren, 
• Matija Rijavec, 
• Peter Kopac, 
• Urska Bidovec-Stojkovic, 
• Renato Erzen & 
• Peter Korosec 

Clinical and Translational Allergy volume 10, Article number: 63 (2020) 

• details

Abstract

Background

The role of chemokines in anaphylaxis is unclear.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 49 patients presenting to the emergency department with an acute episode of anaphylaxis and 28 healthy subjects. We measured serum levels of the chemokines CCL2, CCL5, CCL7, CCL8, CCL11, CCL13, CCL17, CCL21, CCL22, CCL24, and CCL26, tryptase, the absolute number of circulating basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and PMNs, and whole blood FCER1A, CPA3 and HDC gene expression at two time points: during the anaphylactic episode and in convalescent samples collected approximately 3 months later. We then investigated the in vitro chemotactic activity of chemokines induced during anaphylaxis for the in vitro migration of the corresponding cells.

The Role of Electronic Noses in Phenotyping Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Open AccessReview

by 

Simone Scarlata

 ,

Panaiotis Finamore

 ,

Martina Meszaros

 ,

Silvano Dragonieri

  and

Andras Bikov

 

Biosensors 2020, 10(11), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios10110171

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common progressive disorder of the respiratory system which is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide. Exhaled breath analysis is a non-invasive method to study lung diseases, and electronic noses have been extensively used in breath research.