Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea Are Common in Community-Acquired Acute Viral Respiratory Illness

• Original Article
• Open Access

• Kira L. Newman, 
• Caitlin R. Wolf, 
• Jennifer K. Logue, 
• Janet A. Englund, 
• Michael Boeckh, 
• Helen Y. Chu on behalf of 
• the Seattle Flu Study Investigators

Dig Dis Sci (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-023-07976-4

• details

Abstract

Background

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are recognized sequelae of acute respiratory illness (ARI), but their prevalence is not well documented. Our study aim was to assess the incidence of GI symptoms in community ARI cases for persons of all ages and their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods

We collected mid-nasal swabs, clinical, and symptom data from Seattle-area individuals during the 2018–2019 winter season as part of a large-scale prospective community surveillance study.

Identification of key genes and the pathophysiology associated with allergen-specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis

Fan, K., Zhou, S., Jin, L. et al. BMC Immunol 24, 19 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12865-023-00556-1

Abstract

Background

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment in allergic rhinitis (AR), comprising long-term allergen administration and over three years of treatment. This study is carried out for revealing the mechanisms and key genes of AIT in AR.

Methods

The present study utilized online Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray expression profiling dataset GSE37157 and GSE29521 to analyze the hub genes changes related to AIT in AR. Based on limma package, differential expression analysis for the two groups (samples of allergic patients prior to AIT and samples of allergic patients undergoing AIT) was performed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of DEGs were conducted using DAVID database. A Protein-Protein Interaction network (PPI) was built and a significant network module was acquired by using Cytoscape software (Cytoscape, 3.7.2).

Real-time environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols

Puthussery, J.V., Ghumra, D.P., McBrearty, K.R. et al.  Nat Commun 14, 3692 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39419-z

Abstract

Real-time surveillance of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus is a technological gap that has eluded the scientific community since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Offline air sampling techniques for SARS-CoV-2 detection suffer from longer turnaround times and require skilled labor. Here, we present a proof-of-concept pathogen Air Quality (pAQ) monitor for real-time (5 min time resolution) direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols. The system synergistically integrates a high flow (~1000 lpm) wet cyclone air sampler and a nanobody-based ultrasensitive micro-immunoelectrode biosensor.

The use of an inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting beta 2 agonist and long-acting muscarinic antagonist improved asthma outcomes compared with use of just two of those medications

Kostikas K, Maspero JF, Chapman KR, Mezzi K, Jaumont X, Lawrence D, van Zyl-Smit R. Efficacy of mometasone/indacaterol/glycopyrronium in patients with inadequately controlled asthma with respect to baseline eosinophil count: Post hoc analysis of IRIDIUM study. Respir Med. 2023 Jun 29:107334. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107334. 

Highlights

• •
  Baseline characteristics could guide asthma treatment.
• •
  Evaluating MF/IND/GLY efficacy in asthma patients by baseline eosinophil levels.
• •
  Eosinophil levels did not affect MF/IND/GLY efficacy over MF/IND and FLU/SAL.
• •
  Findings are in line with the IRIDIUM overall population.

Abstract

Background

Baseline characteristics could potentially guide asthma treatments. We evaluated whether baseline eosinophil levels affect the efficacy of mometasone/indacaterol/glycopyrronium (MF/IND/GLY) in patients with inadequately controlled asthma.

Adrenaline auto-injector prescription for patients at risk of anaphylaxis: BSACI guidance for primary care

Angier E, Choudhury D, Luyt D, Baker S, Warner A, Clark A, Ewan P. Clin Exp Allergy. 2023 May 29. doi: 10.1111/cea.14325.

To the Editor,

Anaphylaxis is ‘a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction’. It is characterised by rapidly developing features involving one or more of the airways (laryngeal oedema and/or bronchospasm) and circulation (hypotension) often with associated skin and mucosal changes (urticaria, angioedema). Hospital admissions for anaphylaxis are increasing. However, fatalities remain very rare at a stable rate of approximately 20 per year in the UK.

Review: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA): two sides of the same coin

Khoury P, Akuthota P, Kwon N, Steinfeld J, Roufosse F. Mayo Clin Proc. 2023 Jul;98(7):1054-1070. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.02.013. 

Abstract

Elevated eosinophil counts are implicated in multiple diseases, from relatively prevalent organ-specific disorders such as severe eosinophilic asthma, to rare multisystem disorders such as hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Patients with these multisystem diseases, often associated with markedly elevated eosinophil counts, have a substantial risk of morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment. A thorough workup of symptomatic patients presenting with elevated eosinophil counts is essential, although in some cases the differential diagnosis may remain difficult because of overlapping presentations between HES and EGPA. Notably, first- and second-line treatment options and response to therapy may differ for specific HES and EGPA variants.

Childhood body mass index trajectories and asthma and allergies: A systematic review

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW - Open Access

Chang CL, Ali GB, Pham J, Dharmage SC, Lodge CJ, Tang MLK, Lowe AJ.  Clin Exp Allergy. 2023 Jul 3. doi: 10.1111/cea.14366.

Background
Previous systematic reviews have focused on associations between single time point measures of Body Mass Index (BMI) and asthma and allergic diseases. As BMI changes dynamically during childhood, examination of associations between longitudinal trajectories in BMI and allergic diseases is needed to fully understand the nature of these relationships.

Objective
To systematically synthesise the association between BMI trajectories in childhood (0–18 years) and allergic diseases (asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, or food allergies outcomes).

Design
We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines, and two independent reviewers assessed the study quality using the ROBINS-E and GRADE tools. A narrative synthesis was performed as the statistical heterogeneity did not allow a meta-analysis.

Going over Fungal Allergy: Alternaria alternata and Its Allergens

Abel-Fernández E, Martínez MJ, Galán T, Pineda F.  J Fungi (Basel). 2023 May 18;9(5):582. doi: 10.3390/jof9050582. 

Abstract

Taxonomic distribution of allergens described and accepted by the WHO/IUIS

Fungal allergy is the third most frequent cause of respiratory pathologies and the most related to a poor prognosis of asthma. The genera Alternaria and Cladosporium are the most frequently associated with allergic respiratory diseases, with Alternaria being the one with the highest prevalence of sensitization. Alternaria alternata is an outdoor fungus whose spores disseminate in warm and dry air, reaching peak levels in temperate summers. Alternaria can also be found in damp and insufficiently ventilated houses, causing what is known as sick building syndrome. Thus, exposure to fungal allergens can occur outdoors and indoors. However, not only spores but also fungal fragments contain detectable amounts of allergens and may function as aeroallergenic sources.