Nitrogen dioxide exposure, health outcomes, and associated demographic disparities due to gas and propane combustion by U.S. stoves

Kashtan Y, Nicholson M, Finnegan CJ et al.  Sci Adv. 2024 May 3;10(18):eadm8680. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adm8680.

Abstract

Measured and modeled NO2 concentrations in two test residences.

Gas and propane stoves emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution indoors, but the exposures of different U.S. demographic groups are unknown. We estimate NO2 exposure and health consequences using emissions and concentration measurements from >100 homes, a room-specific indoor air quality model, epidemiological risk parameters, and statistical sampling of housing characteristics and occupant behavior. Gas and propane stoves increase long-term NO2 exposure 4.0 parts per billion volume on average across the United States, 75% of the World Health Organization’s exposure guideline.

Disease modification in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Maurer M, Kolkhir P, Pereira MP, et al. Allergy. 2024; 00: 1-18. doi:10.1111/all.16243

Abstract

Requirements of Disease-Modifying Treatments in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. 

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating, inflammatory skin condition characterized by infiltrating immune cells. Available treatments are limited to improving the signs and symptoms. There is an unmet need to develop therapies that target disease-driving pathways upstream of mast cell activation to inhibit or delay the progression of CSU and associated comorbidities. Here, we aim to define disease modification due to a treatment intervention and criteria that disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) must meet in CSU. We have defined disease modification in CSU as a favorable treatment-induced change in the underlying pathophysiology and, therefore, the disease course, which is clinically beneficial and enduring.

Topical Probiotics Decrease the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Control Trials

Elliot Flint, Nabeel Ahmad, Kevin Rowland, Charles Hildebolt, David M Raskin. medRxiv 2024.07.30.24311221; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.30.24311221

Percent Change from baseline in SCORAD vs time.
A) Percent change in SCORAD vs time for probiotics for all studies.
B) Percent change in SCORAD vs time for placebo for all studies.
C) Difference in percent change in SCORAD between groups vs time for all studies. 

Abstract

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease that commonly appears during childhood but can present at any age. There are many reports showing that probiotics relieve AD symptoms in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to determine the efficacy of topical probiotic treatment for AD in adult populations. A database search was conducted of peer-reviewed, double-blind clinical trials, and studies underwent a systematic exclusion and inclusion process, yielding four that met the criteria. Disease severity, as measured by a standardized scoring tool (SCORAD), was collected, and compared to placebo at two-week and four-week time points.

Impact of temperature and relative humidity variability on children’s allergic diseases and critical time window identification

Yu, S., Bigambo, F.M., Zhou, Z. et al. BMC Public Health 24, 2068 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19573-9

Abstract

Background

The effects of temperature and relative humidity on different types of children’s allergic diseases have not been comprehensively evaluated so far. This study aims to assess the impact of temperature and relative humidity variability on children’s allergic diseases and to identify the critical time window.

Methods

We collected outpatient data on allergen testing in children between July 2020 and January 2022 from the Affiliated Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. We defined the 1st, 10th, 90th, and 99th percentiles as extreme cold, moderate cold, moderate hot, and extreme hot for temperature, and as low, moderate high, and extreme high for relative humidity, respectively.

Dupilumab Reduces Urticaria Activity, Itch, and Hives in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Regardless of Baseline Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels

Maurer, M., Casale, T.B., Saini, S.S. et al.  Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-024-01231-y

Abstract

Introduction

In chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 may promote mast cell activation directly via IL-4 receptor expression, or indirectly via upregulated immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. Dupilumab significantly improved CSU signs and symptoms in the phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled LIBERTY-CSU CUPID Study A. This analysis explores the impact of dupilumab on CSU signs and symptoms and serum IgE levels in patients from LIBERTY-CSU CUPID Study A with serum total IgE above and below 100 IU/mL at baseline.

Methods

Patients with H1-antihistamine-refractory CSU received dupilumab (n = 70) or placebo (n = 68) for 24 weeks.

Protocol for the systematic reviews on the desirable and undesirable effects of pharmacological treatments of allergic rhinitis informing the ARIA 2024 guidelines

Vieira RJ, Torres MI, Bognanni A et al.  Allergol Select. 2024 Jul 22;8:270-277. doi: 10.5414/ALX02515E.

Abstract

There is insufficient evidence regarding the comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments of allergic rhinitis (AR). In the context of informing the 2024 revision of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines, we plan to perform three systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the desirable and undesirable effects (i) between intranasal and oral medications for AR; (ii) between combinations of intranasal and oral medications versus nasal or oral medications alone; and (iii) among different intranasal specific medications. We will search four electronic bibliographic databases and three clinical trials databases for RCTs examining patients ≥ 12 years old with seasonal or perennial AR. Assessed outcomes will include the Total Nasal Symptom Score, the Total Ocular Symptom Score, and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire.

Characterization of omalizumab updosing patterns and predictive factors in chronic spontaneous urticaria: A prospective multicentric observational study

Pierrard G, Bernier C, Du-Thanh A, et al.  Allergy. 2024; 00: 1-10. doi:10.1111/all.16256

Abstract

Background

Limited information is available on the use of omalizumab (OMA) updosing since its introduction as a second-line therapy in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in 2014. Practical guidelines from health authorities are lacking, and the specific characteristics of patients requiring higher doses remain unknown. Our objectives were to characterize the patterns of OMA updosing (defined as changes in dose and/or injection intervals), to identify the predictive factors associated with updosing, and to improve CSU management.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicentric, real-life observational study, including patients diagnosed with CSU and starting OMA. The data were collected at 0, 3, 6, and 9 months.

An algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic inducible Urticaria, 2024 update

Maurer, M., Bonnekoh, H., Grekowitz, E. et al.  Allergy. 2024 https://doi.org/10.1111/all.16250

How to diagnose chronic inducible urticarias. 

The definition and classification of chronic inducible urticariaChronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) is defined by pruritic wheal formation and/or angioedema in response to a definite and specific trigger.1, 2 CIndUs account for 20–30% of all cases of chronic urticaria, that is, urticaria that lasts longer than 6 weeks. Wheals and angioedema, in most types of CIndU, usually occur within 10 min after exposure to the trigger and resolve within 1–3 h after cessation of exposure, except for delayed pressure urticaria (DPU), where symptoms do not appear until hours after exposure to trigger and last up to 24 h. CIndU subtypes are characterized and classified by their specific triggering stimulus, that is, physical and non-physical triggers. Physical stimuli are mechanical friction (symptomatic dermographism), exposure to cold (cold urticaria, ColdU), to heat (heat Urticaria), to components of solar radiation (solar urticaria), pressure (DPU), or vibration (vibratory angioedema). Non-physical stimuli include physical activity (cholinergic urticaria), contact with water (aquagenic urticaria) or to specific agents (contact Urticaria).3 In the absence of the specific trigger, symptoms do not develop in CIndU. A discussion of atypical subtypes of CIndU is provided in the supplement...