Sensitization to Aspergillus species is associated with frequent exacerbations in severe asthma

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Journal of Asthma and Allergy » Volume10

Ken Junyang Goh,¹ Anthony Chau Ang Yii,^1,2 Therese Sophie Lapperre,^1,2 Adrian KW Chan,^1–3 Fook Tim Chew,⁴ Sanjay H Chotirmall,^5,* Mariko Siyue Koh^1–3,*

¹Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, ²Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, ³Allergy Centre, Singapore General Hospital, ⁴Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, ⁵Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Background: Severe asthma is a largely heterogeneous disease with varying phenotypic profiles. The relationship between specific allergen sensitization and asthma severity, particularly in Asia, remains unclear. We aim to study the prevalence of specific allergen sensitization patterns and investigate their association with outcomes in a severe asthma cohort in an Asian setting.

Seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with COPD: a systematic literature review

BMC Pulmonary Medicine 

RESEARCH ARTICLE

 

OPEN ACCESS

 

OPEN PEER REVIEW

• Rafik Bekkat-BerkaniEmail author,
• Tom Wilkinson,
• Philippe Buchy,
• Gael Dos Santos,
• Dimitris Stefanidis,
• Jeanne-Marie Devaster and
• Nadia Meyer

BMC Pulmonary MedicineBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201717:79

DOI: 10.1186/s12890-017-0420-8

Abstract

Background

Influenza is a frequent cause of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exacerbations are associated with worsening of the airflow obstruction, hospitalisation, reduced quality of life, disease progression, death, and ultimately, substantial healthcare-related costs. Despite longstanding recommendations to vaccinate vulnerable high-risk groups against seasonal influenza, including patients with COPD, vaccination rates remain sub-optimal in this population.

Pilot study of mobile phone technology in allergic rhinitis in European countries: the MASK-rhinitis study

Volume 72, Issue 6 June 2017 

• 1. 
     Previous article in issue: Overview of systematic reviews in allergy epidemiology
• 
  
• Abstract
  Background

  The use of Apps running on smartphones and tablets profoundly affects medicine. The MASK-rhinitis (MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) App (Allergy Diary) assesses allergic rhinitis symptoms, disease control and impact on patients’ lives. It is freely available in 20 countries (iOS and Android platforms).
  Aims

  
  

  To assess in a pilot study whether (i) Allergy Diary users were able to properly provide baseline characteristics (ii) simple phenotypic characteristics based upon data captured by the Allergy Diarycould be identified and (iii) information gathered by this study could suggest novel research questions.
  Methods

  The Allergy Diary users were classified into six groups according to the baseline data that they entered into the App: (i) asymptomatic; (ii) nasal symptoms excluding rhinorrhea; (iii) rhinorrhea; (iv) rhinorrhea plus 1–2 nasal/ocular symptoms; (v) rhinorrhea plus ≥3 nasal/ocular symptoms; and (vi) rhinorrhea plus all nasal/ocular symptoms.