COVID-19 pandemic: different roles for scientific publications and funding face to epidemiological data—an European, country-based perspective

• Commentary
• Open Access
• 
  

• Alessandro Tonacci, 
• Sara Genovese, 
• Giovanni Pioggia & 
• Sebastiano Gangemi 

Clinical and Molecular Allergy volume 19, Article number: 16 (2021) 

Abstract

COVID-19 has represented an unprecedented challenge to be faced also concerning the spread of information, with scientific literature being often the sole source of trustworthy knowledge for the global community. However, a massive waste in research was noticed during pandemic, preventing the scientists to produce totally novel and original results, and the citizenship to have the complete support they needed from science. The present work investigated the relationship between planned funding, research grants, scientific publications and epidemiology in the 27 EU countries, retrieving a significant correlation between scientific publications and COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as with economic data.

Association between serum zonulin level and severity of house dust mite allergic asthma

Shereen A. Baioumy, 

Aya Elgendy, 

Shereen M. Ibrahim, 

Sara I. Taha & 

Shaimaa H. Fouad 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 86 (2021) 

Abstract 

Background: Increased intestinal permeability, either due to the exposure to antigens in asthmatic patients or due to a barrier defect, plays a critical role in susceptibility to environmental allergens. House dust mite allergy occurs more commonly than any other type of allergy among Egyptian asthmatic patients.

Aim: To assess the relation between serum zonulin level as a marker of increased intestinal permeability and the severity of house dust mite allergic asthma.

Methods: A case–control study which included 48 patients with house dust mite allergic asthma and 48 healthy control subjects attending the Allergy and Immunology Unit, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University.

Paradoxical effects of cigarette smoke and COPD on SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

M. Tomchaney, 

M. Contoli, 

J. Mayo, 

S. Baraldo, 

S. Li, 

C. R. Cabel, 

D. A. Bull, 

S. Lick, 

J. Malo, 

S. Knoper, 

S. S. Kim, 

J. Tram, 

J. Rojas-Quintero, 

M. Kraft, 

J. G. Ledford, 

Y. Tesfaigzi, 

F. D. Martinez, 

C. A. Thorne, 

F. Kheradmand, 

S. K. Campos, 

A. Papi & 

F. Polverino 

BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 21, Article number: 275 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

How cigarette smoke (CS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and severity is controversial. We investigated the effects of COPD and CS on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 in vivo in COPD patients and controls and in CS-exposed mice, and the effects of CS on SARS-CoV-2 infection in human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.

Methods

Use of electronic medical records to describe the prevalence of allergic diseases in Canada

• Short Report
• Open Access
• 
  

• Alexander G. Singer, 
• Leanne Kosowan, 
• Nerissa Nankissoor, 
• Ryan Phung, 
• Jennifer L. P. Protudjer & 
• Elissa M. Abrams 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 85 (2021) 

Abstract: 

Background: Leveraging the data management resources of the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN) is a viable approach for describing the prevalence of allergic disease documented in primary care settings.

Methods: The dataset used for this study was inclusive of data from EMR initiation up to Dec 31st 2018. The sample included 1235 primary care providers representing 1,556,472 patients across Canada.

Factors associated with IgG levels in adults with IgG subclass deficiency

• Research
• Open Access
• BMC Immunology

• James C. Barton, 
• Jackson Clayborn Barton, 
• Luigi F. Bertoli & 
• Ronald T. Acton 

BMC Immunology volume 22, Article number: 53 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Factors associated with IgG levels in adults with IgG subclass deficiency (IgGSD) are incompletely understood. We studied adults with IgGSD with subnormal IgG1 only, subnormal IgG1/IgG3, or subnormal IgG3 only without other subnormal IgG subclasses, IgA, or IgM. We compiled: age; sex; autoimmune condition(s) (AC); atopy; IgG, IgG subclasses, IgA, IgM; IgGsum (IgG1 + IgG2 + IgG3 + IgG4); and D (percentage difference between IgGsum and IgG).

Exertional intolerance and dyspnea with preserved lung function: an emerging long COVID phenotype?

• Letter to the Editor
• Open Access
• 
  

• Grace Y. Lam, 
• A. Dean Befus, 
• Ronald W. Damant, 
• Giovanni Ferrara, 
• Desi P. Fuhr, 
• Michael K. Stickland, 
• Rhea A. Varughese, 
• Eric Y. Wong & 
• Maeve P. Smith 

Respiratory Research volume 22, Article number: 222 (2021) 

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant acute morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is now a growing recognition of the longer-term sequelae of this infection, termed “long COVID”. However, little is known about this condition. Here, we describe a distinct phenotype seen in a subset of patients with long COVID who have reduced exercise tolerance as measured by the 6 min walk test. They are associated with significant exertional dyspnea, reduced health-related quality of life and poor functional status. However, surprisingly, they do not appear to have any major pulmonary function abnormalities or increased burden of neurologic, musculoskeletal or fatigue symptoms.

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Prevalence and clinical implications of bronchiectasis in patients with overlapping asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis: a single-center prospective study

Haiyan Sheng, 

Xiujuan Yao, 

Xiangdong Wang, 

Yuhong Wang, 

Xiaofang Liu & 

Luo Zhang 

BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 21, Article number: 211 (2021) 

Abstract

Background

As a typical “united airway” disease, asthma-chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) overlap has recently drawn more attention. Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous disease related to a variety of diseases. Whether bronchiectasis exists and correlates with asthma-CRS patients has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the study was to explore the presence and characteristics of bronchiectasis in patients with overlapping asthma and CRS.

Methods

This report describes a prospective study with consecutive asthma-CRS patients.

Distinct differences in analytical performance of two commercially available assays for specific IgE to egg white and house dust mite allergens

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Komei Ito & 
• Kazunori Tagami 

Clinical and Molecular Allergy volume 19, Article number: 13 (2021) 

Abstract

Background

Measurements of allergen-specific IgE antibodies with different manufacturers’ assays show modest or poor agreement. This study compares analytical performance of specific IgE tests for whole allergen extracts and individual allergen components of two assay systems, IMMULITE and ImmunoCAP, using human sera as well as monoclonal antibodies.