Intranasal Schirmer Test: A Useful Diagnostic Tool in Nasal Allergen Provocation Testing

von der Lage P, Bächinger D, Marti S, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Röösli C, Lang C, Soyka M. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2025 May 17:S1081-1206(25)00237-6. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2025.05.012.

Abstract

Background: The intranasal Schirmer test (INSCH) is a quick method to objectify nasal secretion. This study aims to use the INSCH to assess nasal secretion change through direct nasal allergen provocation (NPT).

Objective: This prospective single-center study included patients who received allergy diagnostics using NPT and anterior rhinomanometry (aRMM).

Methods: The Schirmer filter paper was attached to the nasal septum bilaterally pre- and post-allergen provocation. Additionally, all participants completed the sinonasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22). The difference in wetting length before and after allergen provocation was investigated. Moreover, a cut-off value for allergic rhinitis were calculated.

Results: A total of n = 25 patients and n = 25 in the control group were included.

Emerging Novel Biomarkers in Allergic Rhinitis: A Narrative Review

Mishra T, Sasanka K, Sudha TY S, et al. (May 23, 2025)  Cureus 17(5): e84705 doi:10.7759/cureus.84705

Abstract

Flow diagram depicting study search and screening

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent, immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated inflammatory condition that significantly impacts global public health. While conventional biomarkers such as total and specific IgE and eosinophil counts are widely used, their limitations in diagnostic precision and treatment response prediction have prompted research into novel biomarkers. This review synthesizes emerging evidence from the past 15 years on innovative molecular markers implicated in AR pathogenesis and management. A comprehensive literature search identified preclinical and clinical studies investigating promising biomarkers, including periostin, microRNA-155, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), Granzyme A (GZMA), CD39, and several serum and nasal fluid proteins such as orosomucoid (ORM), apolipoprotein H (APOH), and serpin family b member 3 (SERPINB3).

Diagnostic value of EOS count and serum VEGF in bronchial asthma and their correlation with inflammatory factors and lung function indicators

Liu, L., Zhang, C., Xu, J. et al.  BMC Pulm Med 25, 242 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03485-4

Abstract

Objective

To probe the diagnostic value of direct eosinophils (EOS) count and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in bronchial asthma (BA) and their correlation with inflammatory factors and lung function indicators.

Methods

A total of 66 patients with BA (BA group) were retrospectively gathered, who were further divided into mild (n = 25), moderate (n = 31), and severe (n = 10) subgroups based on asthma severity. Additionally, 60 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations during the same period were enrolled as the normal group. The EOS count, serum VEGF, inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-7 (IL-7), interleukin-10 (IL-10)], and lung function indicators [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) as a percentage of the predicted value, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)] were compared among different groups.

Investigating the Role of Mosquito Repellents in Atopic Dermatitis

 Xiaoxue Wang, Zexin Zhu. Food and Chemical Toxicology Available online 20 My 2025, 115571

Highlights

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  Mosquito repellent chemical components (MRCCs) have been widely employed to prevent mosquito bites.
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  Currently, MRCCs are frequently identified in various environmental contexts.
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  MRCCs can trigger skin inflammation through multiple signaling pathways and are associated with the induction of atopic dermatitis (AD).
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  MRCCs have the potential to interact with key targets implicated in the progression of AD.
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  The findings from the network toxicology and molecular docking analyses were subsequently validated through in vitro cellular experiments.

ABSTRACT:

Mosquito bites are prevalent occurrences among various populations worldwide, mosquito repellent chemical components (MRCCs) have been extensively utilized.

Skin Staphylococcus aureus detection and relationship to atopic dermatitis outcomes using culture and metagenomic sequencing

Dahal, A., Chang, W.C., Johansson, E. et al.  Sci Rep 15, 17606 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99463-1

Abstract

Total samples categories and detection rates by different methodologies

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) skin colonization in pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) increases risk for severe AD and development of other allergic diseases. Despite this, there is no consensus regarding the optimal method to detect SA. Studies comparing metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS) and culture-based methods in SA detection and relationships to AD outcomes are lacking. In the Mechanisms of Progression of Atopic Dermatitis to Asthma in Children (MPAACH) cohort, we defined SA colonization categories by contact agar plate sampling/culture and skin tape sampling/MSS: double negative, sequencing only positive, contact plate only positive, and double positive (n = 759).

A Multidimensional Diagnostic Approach for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPDGene 2025 Diagnosis Working Group and CanCOLD Investigators.  JAMA. Published online May 18, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.7358

Key Points

Question  Does incorporating chest computed tomographic imaging abnormalities and respiratory symptoms into the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnostic schema improve identification of individuals with poor respiratory outcomes?

Findings  Among 9416 participants enrolled in a multicenter cohort study, those with newly diagnosed COPD had greater all-cause and respiratory-specific mortality, more frequent exacerbations, and faster decline of forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration compared with individuals classified as not having COPD based on the new classification schema.

Infection risk in atopic dermatitis patients treated with biologics and JAK inhibitors: BioDay results

van der Gang LF, Atash K, Zuithoff NPA, Haeck I, Boesjes CM, Bacoş-Cosma OI, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025; 00: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20674

Abstract

Background

Limited data exist on the comparative risk of infections during biologic and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) in daily practice.

Objective

To assess the differential infection risk of biologic and JAKi treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe AD in a real-world setting.

Methods

This prospective, multicentre study evaluated treatment-emergent infections in patients (age ≥ 12 years) using biologics or JAKi from the BioDay registry from October 2017 to July 2024. Crude incidence rates were calculated per 100 patient-years (PY) per treatment. Cox regression for recurrent events, adjusted for potential confounders, was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for the rate of infections, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses in bio-/JAKi-naïve patients.

Results

Graphical Abstract

In total 1793 patients were included (4044.1 PY; 1886 biologic treatment episodes (TEs); 480 JAKi), with 794 infections. JAKi showed higher infection rates (58.4–65.5/100 PY) compared to biologics (13.6–22.0), especially for herpes infections (n = 195, 24.6%; JAKi 13.6–19.8 vs. biologicals 3.0–3.6). Cox regression indicated increased rates with JAKi (abrocitinib HR 4.1, 95% CI: 3.1–5.5; baricitinib HR 4.2, 95% CI: 2.9–6.2; upadacitinib HR 4.0, 95% CI: 3.2–5.0; all p < 0.0001) and a slight increase with tralokinumab (HR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0–2.0, p = 0.039) compared to dupilumab.

Seasonal Proteomic Variations and Biomarkers in Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Insights from Olink Inflammation Profiling

Shen J, Zheng X, Yan M, Feng M, Ding C, Xie S, Xu H.  J Inflamm Res. 2025;18:6191-6202

https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S519126

Graphical Abstract

Purpose: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a prevalent inflammatory condition, yet its molecular mechanisms and reliable biomarkers remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to identify key inflammation-related proteins and pathways associated with SAR by investigating seasonal proteomic profile variations and their correlations with SAR symptoms.
Patients and Methods: Serum samples were collected from nineteen SAR patients during both allergy (in-season, IS) and non-allergy (out-of-season, OS) periods. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using the Olink Target 96 Inflammation panel, which were further analyzed through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses.