Search Results (18)

Background/Objectives: Patch testing is a valuable clinical tool for identifying the causes of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). This study aimed to identify common allergens in southern Taiwan. Methods: A retrospective review of patch test data from April 2019 to May 2023 was conducted at a tertiary medical center. The European Baseline Series of allergens was utilized to evaluate and identify the causes of dermatitis. The prevalence rates of contact sensitization to each allergen were calculated. Results: A total of 57 patients (mean age 41.8 years) with contact dermatitis who underwent patch testing were included. The most common allergens were cobalt chloride (24.6%), followed by fragrance mix I (19.3%), Peru balsam (17.5%), nickel (II) sulfate hexahydrate (15.8%), benzisothiazolinone (15.8%), 4-Phenylenediamine (PPD) base (10.5%), and methyldibromo glutaronitrile (10.5%). Patients with positive patch test results frequently had a history of allergic rhinitis (26.3%), atopic dermatitis (24.6%), urticaria (21.1%), and elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels (28.1%). The hairdressing profession was associated with a higher risk of hand eczematous dermatitis. Conclusions: Positive patch test results were observed in 86% of patients diagnosed with contact dermatitis. This study found that cobalt, rather than nickel, was the most prevalent allergen in patients with contact dermatitis. Elevated IgE levels were observed in ACD patients, with the hands being the most frequently affected area. Occupations as accountants, secretaries, and in the hairdressing and cosmetics industries were strongly associated with hand eczematous dermatitis. The early identification of allergens and appropriate treatment strategies significantly reduced recurrence rates and improved outcomes. For individuals with specific allergies, ongoing avoidance of identified allergens is crucial to managing and preventing allergic reactions. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and responses to novel therapies, including biologic agent- and nanotechnology-based treatments. Full article

Information regarding the effects of exposure to relatively low ozone (O₃) concentrations in daily life is limited. We evaluated the effects of daily O₃ exposure on nasal and respiratory symptoms in healthy students. A panel study was conducted with students (39 people) for approximately one month. They were asked to record the presence or absence of any nasal or respiratory symptoms each day. O₃ concentrations were continuously measured inside and outside the classrooms, and the maximum 1 h, maximum 8 h average, and 24 h average values were calculated for the 24 h before recording the symptoms. Additionally, personal exposure to O₃ was repeatedly measured every 24 h using passive samplers. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between daily symptoms and various O₃ concentrations. Increases in maximum 1 h concentrations of indoor and outdoor O₃ were significantly associated with the occurrence of nasal congestion and runny nose, respectively. These associations were more pronounced in those with a history of pollinosis or allergic rhinitis. Personal O₃ exposure per 24 h was also associated with sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion. This study showed that the assessment of the amount of personal exposure levels is desired to evaluate the health effects of O₃ exposure. Full article

Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) stand as prevalent chronic ailments impacting children within the United States. It is approximated that as many as 40% of American children exhibit symptoms indicative of AR, a condition which, if inadequately managed, could potentially lead to the onset of additional illnesses such as asthma, rhinosinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and otitis media. We have devised a universal synthetic pathway to encapsulate small molecules of montelukast sodium within Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the treatment of asthma and AR. Two distinct Cu-MOFs, namely single linker and mixed linker MOFs, were synthesized through the solvothermal method utilizing 1,4-benzenedioic acid (BDC) and 4,4′-dipyridile as linkers. The synthesized Cu-MOFs underwent thorough examination employing various analytical techniques including BET, SEM, FTIR, and PXRD. These MOFs hold promise as potential vehicles for drug delivery applications. Various proportions of Cu-MOF-1 and Cu-MOF-2 were dispersed alongside montelukast sodium. Notably, the 1:1 ratio of both MOFs exhibited enhanced drug absorption compared to other ratios. Furthermore, Cu-MOF-2 demonstrated superior drug absorption overall when contrasted with Cu-MOF-1. This investigation also delves into the drug release dynamics from different ratios of MOFs and the drug. The drug release analysis was conducted in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution with a pH of 7.4, and the absorbance values were measured using a UV-visible spectrometer at distinct time intervals. Drug molecules are effectively encapsulated within MOFs and demonstrate controlled release through the establishment of hydrogen bonding or π–π interactions between the drug molecules and MOFs. Despite notable advancements in the utilization of MOFs for biomedical purposes, additional enhancements are necessary before they can be considered viable therapeutic modalities. Full article

Nasal cytology is a non-invasive, affordable, and easily executable technique commonly used in research to study rhinitis and, to a lesser extent, chronic rhinosinusitis. It is particularly useful for the differential diagnosis of non-allergic rhinitis and for phenotyping chronic rhinosinusitis. Allergic rhinitis, asthma, and aspirin intolerance are frequent comorbidities of chronic rhinosinusitis. A diagnostic system has been proposed to assess the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis (clinical-cytological grading), incorporating nasal cytology and comorbidity observation. This score correlates with the recurrence risk of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Specifically, a higher grade is often linked to asthma, aspirin intolerance, a recurrent disease requiring surgery, and a mixed cell phenotype (eosinophilic and mast cell). Although nasal cytology has been shown to be able to replace bronchial analysis with acceptable precision due to its technical characteristics, its use in diseases affecting both upper and lower airways remains limited. The main limitation of this technique is its lack of standardization, which currently hinders its widespread clinical adoption despite its increasing familiarity among allergists and otolaryngologists. In the context of the unitary airways hypothesis, nasal cytology could also provide valuable insights for managing lower airway diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, which significantly impact quality of life and healthcare costs. This review aims to provide an overview of nasal cytology, highlighting its limitations and potential applications in chronic respiratory diseases. Full article

Background: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an atopic disease affecting the upper airways of predisposed subjects exposed to aeroallergens. This study evaluates the effects of a mix of specific probiotics (L. acidophilus PBS066, L. rhamnosus LRH020, B. breve BB077, and B. longum subsp. longum BLG240) on symptoms and fecal microbiota modulation in subjects with AR. Methods: Probiotic effects were evaluated at the beginning (T0), at four and eight weeks of treatment (T1 and T2, respectively), and after four weeks of follow-up from the end of treatment (T3) (n = 19) compared to the placebo group (n = 22). AR symptoms and quality of life were evaluated by the mini rhinitis quality of life questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) at each time point. Allergic immune response and fecal microbiota compositions were assessed at T0, T2, and T3. The study was registered on Clinical-Trial.gov (NCT05344352). Results: The probiotic group showed significant improvement in the MiniRQLQ score at T1, T2, and T3 vs. T0 (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). At T2, the probiotic group showed an increase in Dorea, which can be negatively associated with allergic diseases, and Fusicatenibacter, an intestinal bacterial genus with anti-inflammatory properties (p-value FDR-corrected = 0.0074 and 0.013, respectively). Conversely, at T3 the placebo group showed an increase in Bacteroides and Ruminococcaceae unassigned, (p-value FDR-corrected = 0.033 and 0.023, respectively) which can be associated with allergies, while the probiotic group showed a significative increase in the Prevotella/Bacteroides ratio (p-value FDR-corrected = 0.023). Conclusions: This probiotic formulation improves symptoms and quality of life in subjects with AR, promoting a shift towards anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic bacterial species in the intestinal microbiota. Full article

Exposure to disinfectants, cleansers, and bleaching chemicals irritates the eyes, respiratory systems, and skin, triggering asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms. Bleach, as the major constituent of cleansers, when used improperly or mixed with other indoor cleaning agents, produces harmful halogenated volatile organic compounds. This manuscript assesses the influence of excessive exposure to disinfectants, including bleaching agents, when used against infectious conditions related to SARS-COVID-19 and its management. The use and impact of different bleaching agents in cleansing and their associated problems have been analyzed and presented in this review. This analysis focuses on the conventional and post-pandemic approach towards bleaches. Usage of bleaching agents increased by a staggering 20.4% and 16.4% from January to March 2020 compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019. Mounting use of bleaching agents during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in negative health effects like asthma, eye irritation, and skin allergies. An approximately 42% rise in poisoning cases, including a few deaths, has been associated with exposure to harmful chemicals involving bleaches during the recent pandemic. Bleaching agents are the primary sources of hazardous indoor pollutants; therefore, despite their importance in disinfection, their utility must be substantiated based on legal guidelines, disposal, and remedial measures. Thus, conducting future occupational exposure assessment studies for bleach hazard management is crucial. Full article

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has outpaced vaccine availability and delivery from vaccine manufacturers, and thus, a scarcity of vaccines happened to many countries around the world. In Thailand, the mixing of different types of vaccines was approved and clinically implemented partially due to concerns about the availability and efficacy of one vaccine. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of heterologous CoronaVac–ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines compared with the usual regimen of homologous CoronaVac–CoronaVac. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by dividing patients into the CoronaVac–CoronaVac group and the CoronaVac–ChAdOx1 group. Results: A total of 875 patients received vaccinations at Srisangwan Hospital between April to October 2021 and were included for analysis. The patients in both homologous and heterologous groups had low rates of COVID-19 infection. In addition, the hospitalization rates in the 40 days after the second vaccination were low in both regimens. Minimal adverse events (AE) were reported in both groups, including local AE (e.g., discomfort at the injection site, rash, soreness, swelling, and redness) and systemic AE (e.g., fever, headache, weariness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and myalgia). Moreover, several factors were associated with lower adverse events following immunization (AEFIs), including age ≥ 50 years, male, and body weight ≥ 50 kg. In contrast, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, allergic rhinitis, and psychiatric disorders were independent risk factors associated with an increase in AEFIs. Conclusions: The heterologous CoronaVac–ChAdOx1 and homologous CoronaVac–CoronaVac regimens were promising vaccination strategies for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the heterologous CoronaVac–ChAdOx1 potentially caused fewer AEFIs compared with the homologous CoronaVac–CoronaVac regimen. Full article

This study seeks to elucidate the intricate relationship between various air pollutants and the incidence of rhinitis in Seoul, South Korea, wherein it leveraged a vast repository of data and machine learning techniques. The dataset comprised more than 93 million hospital visits (n = 93,530,064) by rhinitis patients between 2013 and 2017. Daily atmospheric measurements were captured for six major pollutants: PM${}_{10}$, PM${}_{2.5}$, O₃, NO₂, CO, and SO₂. We employed traditional correlation analyses alongside machine learning models, including the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), and gradient boosting machine (GBM), to dissect the effects of these pollutants and the potential time lag in their symptom manifestation. Our analyses revealed that CO showed the strongest positive correlation with hospital visits across all three categories, with a notable significance in the 4-day lag analysis. NO₂ also exhibited a substantial positive association, particularly with outpatient visits and hospital admissions and especially in the 4-day lag analysis. Interestingly, O₃ demonstrated mixed results. Both PM${}_{10}$ and PM${}_{2.5}$ showed significant correlations with the different types of hospital visits, thus underlining their potential to exacerbate rhinitis symptoms. This study thus underscores the deleterious impacts of air pollution on respiratory health, thereby highlighting the importance of reducing pollutant levels and developing strategies to minimize rhinitis-related hospital visits. Further research considering other environmental factors and individual patient characteristics will enhance our understanding of these intricate dynamics. Full article

Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are generally safe and effective treatments for allergic rhinitis (AR). The improper use of INCS may not alleviate AR symptoms, and it could lead to complications and an impaired quality of life. We evaluated the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices of INCS usage and associated factors among AR patients using a pretested Arabic questionnaire. Of the 400 participating AR patients, 39.3%, 29.0%, and 36.5% had poor scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. We found a significant association between knowledge and education (p < 0.001) and follow-up facilities (p = 0.036). The attitude category was significantly associated with age (p = 0.003), marital status (p = 0.004), and type of allergic patients (p < 0.001), and the practice category was significantly associated with education (p = 0.027), type of allergic patients (p = 0.008), and follow-up facilities (p = 0.030). Smoking status was significantly associated with all three categories. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores (Spearman’s rho of 0.451, p < 0.001). We recommend improving AR patients’ knowledge of the proper practices of INCS through health education programs. Furthermore, we recommend an exploratory mixed-method survey on the INCS usage among AR patients that involves other provinces in the KSA. Full article

Background: Airway allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their comorbidities, are increasing worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic health burdens to societies. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of the population is allergic to fungi. The type of fungal sensitization varies from one geographical region to another. The present study aimed to identify the common fungal aeroallergen sensitization patterns among airway-allergic patients residing in the Zagazig locality, Egypt, in order to obtain a better understanding of fungal allergy, in addition to improving the awareness and management strategies for those patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 200 allergic rhinitis and asthma patients. Sensitization to fungal aeroallergens was evaluated by skin prick testing and in vitro measurement of total and specific immunoglobulin E. Results. As determined by a skin prick test, 58% of the patients studied were allergic to mixed molds. Alternaria alternata was the predominant fungal aeroallergen among the studied patients (72.2%), which was followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (53.45%), Penicillium notatum (52.6%), Candida albicans (34.5%), and Aspergillus niger (25%). Conclusion: Mixed mold sensitization ranked fourth among the most frequent aeroallergens in airway-allergic patients, and Alternaria alternata was the most frequently encountered fungal aeroallergen in the Zagazig locality. Full article

Background. Adverse health effects due to occupational exposures are a global public health concern and have been studied for many years. Ceramic workers are occupationally exposed to a wide range of toxic substances as they manage clay (silico-aluminous feldspar mixed with sodium, potassium salts and iron oxide). The objective of this study was to assess the presence of any inflammation or alteration of the nasal mucosa of ceramic workers by nasal cytology. Materials and methods. Twenty-eight ceramic workers from Caltagirone (Italy) were enrolled. Nasal symptoms, atopy, health habits and workplace features were assessed by a special questionnaire, and nasal mucosa health was evaluated by nasal cytology. Results. The cytological study of the nasal mucosa revealed the constant presence of abundant, thick and filamentous mucus, as well as a reorganization of the nasal cellularity with a prevalence of muciparous hyperplasia and metaplasia in the study group, and only in a lesser extent for the subjects with some protective environmental measures. Conclusions. The ceramic workers showed chronic inflammatory rhinitis on nasal cytology, with a remodelling of the nasal mucosa and thick mucus. Nasal cytology may be a helpful tool either for the health surveillance of the ceramic workers, or for the screening of any pathology of the upper airways. Full article

Introduction: An atopic status assessment (skin prick test or specific immunoglobulin (sIgE)) in asthmatic children is considered a milestone in identifying potential risk factors and triggers provoking loss of asthma control and asthma exacerbation. Objective: The study aims to perform a comparative analysis of different laboratory methods for a serological assessment of an atopic status in asthma and respiratory allergies in children. Material and methods: A total of 86 children were included, all of whom were diagnosed with bronchial asthma, aged from 5 to 17 years and screened for total IgE level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In 48 randomly selected children, we performed a semi-quantitative serological in vitro assessment of the specific IgE antibodies against food and aeroallergen, using two different laboratory methods—Euroimmun Immunoblot and ImmunoCAP (Phadiatop/fx5). Results: In 70% of the children with a history of allergies, and 65.3% without clinically manifested allergies, multiscreen test ImmunoCAP Phadiatop/fx5 showed positivity and confirmed atopy. Our results showed a significant moderate to strong correlation between multiscreen ImmunoCAP Phadiatop/fx5, and Euroimmun specific IgE titers against aero-allergens—cats, mites, tree mix and food allergens—soy, wheat (р = 0.006), rice, р = 0.090), apple р = 0.007) and peanut. A sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 73.5% was observed for EUROIMMUN Pediatric (food allergens, IgE titer > 1) compared with the gold standard ImmunoCap/fx5. The mean value of total IgE is significantly higher in children with asthma and concomitant with allergic rhinitis compared to those without allergic rhinitis (mean 202.52 U/mL, IQR 102.50 (24.20–363.95) vs. 316.68, IQR 261.00 (109.20–552.50), p = 0.005). Conclusion: Establishing the spectrum of the most common respiratory and food allergens is an essential factor for maintaining asthma control, both through a strategy to avoid allergen exposure and by developing a recommendation plan. The immunoblotting technique is easily applicable in daily clinical and laboratory practice. It is also a cost-effective and reliable alternative to the “gold standard” ImmunoCAP Phadiatop/fx5 in diagnosing atopy in children. Full article

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment that can change the course of allergic diseases. However, there has not been any research on metabolic reactions in relation to AIT with single or mixed allergens. In this study, patients with allergic rhinitis caused by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) were treated with single-mite (Der p) and double-mite (Der p:Der f = 1:1) subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), respectively. To compare the efficacy and the dynamic changes of inflammation-related single- and double-species mite subcutaneous immunotherapy (SM-SCIT and DM-SCIT), we performed visual analogue scale (VAS) score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score and serum metabolomics in allergic rhinitis patients during SCIT. VAS and RQLQ score showed no significant difference in efficacy between the two treatments. A total of 57 metabolites were identified, among which downstream metabolites (5(S)-HETE (Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid), 8(S)-HETE, 11(S)-HETE, 15(S)-HETE and 11-hydro TXB2) in the ω-6-related arachidonic acid and linoleic acid pathway showed significant differences after approximately one year of treatment in SM-SCIT or DM-SCIT, and the changes of the above serum metabolic components were correlated with the magnitude of RQLQ improvement, respectively. Notably, 11(S)-HETE decreased more with SM-SCIT, and thus it could be used as a potential biomarker to distinguish the two treatment schemes. Both SM-SCIT and DM-SCIT have therapeutic effects on patients with allergic rhinitis, but there is no significant difference in efficacy between them. The reduction of inflammation-related metabolites proved the therapeutic effect, and potential biomarkers (arachidonic acid and its downstream metabolites) may distinguish the options of SCIT. Full article

Syo-seiryu-to (SST) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used clinically to treat allergic rhinitis (AR) in Japan. SST improves acute symptoms, such as sneezing and rhinorrhea, as well as chronic symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, in patients with AR. However, its therapeutic mechanisms remain unknown. We examined the effects of SST and eight constituent crude drugs on phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced gene up-regulation of IL-33 and histamine H₁ receptor (H1R), which are responsible for the pathogenesis of AR. We found that SST and its crude drugs, except for Pinellia tuber, significantly and dose-dependently suppressed PMA-induced both IL-33 and H1R mRNA up-regulation in vitro. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of the seven crude drugs to inhibit PMA-induced IL-33 mRNA up-regulation were correlated with those related to H1R mRNA up-regulation, suggesting that they act on a common signal molecule. These results suggest that SST improves nasal congestion that is induced by IL-33-related eosinophil infiltration and inhibits sneezing and rhinorrhea that are induced by H1R-mediated histamine signaling in the nasal mucosa of AR patients through its inhibition of a common molecule in the gene expression pathways of IL-33 and H1R. The results could explain the advantages of traditional herbal medicine, in which mixing various crude drugs not only acts on a common target to enhance its pharmacological action, similar to the effect of a high concentration of a single crude extract but also has the benefit of reducing the side effects of each crude drug. Full article

Anaphylaxis is a severe, acute, life-threatening multisystem allergic reaction resulting from the release of a plethora of mediators from mast cells culminating in serious respiratory, cardiovascular and mucocutaneous manifestations that can be fatal. Medications, foods, latex, exercise, hormones (progesterone), and clonal mast cell disorders may be responsible. More recently, novel syndromes such as delayed reactions to red meat and hereditary alpha tryptasemia have been described. Anaphylaxis manifests as sudden onset urticaria, pruritus, flushing, erythema, angioedema (lips, tongue, airways, periphery), myocardial dysfunction (hypovolemia, distributive or mixed shock and arrhythmias), rhinitis, wheezing and stridor. Vomiting, diarrhea, scrotal edema, uterine cramps, vaginal bleeding, urinary incontinence, dizziness, seizures, confusion, and syncope may occur. The traditional (or classical) pathway is mediated via T cells, Th2 cytokines (such as IL-4 and 5), B cell production of IgE and subsequent crosslinking of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils by IgE-antigen complexes, culminating in mast cell and basophil degranulation. Degranulation results in the release of preformed mediators (histamine, heparin, tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase, cathepsin G and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and of de novo synthesized ones such as lipid mediators (cysteinyl leukotrienes), platelet activating factor (PAF), cytokines and growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Of these, histamine, tryptase, cathepsin G, TNF-α, LTC₄, PAF and VEGF can increase vascular permeability. Recent data suggest that mast cell-derived histamine and PAF can activate nitric oxide production from endothelium and set into motion a signaling cascade that leads to dilatation of blood vessels and dysfunction of the endothelial barrier. The latter, characterized by the opening of adherens junctions, leads to increased capillary permeability and fluid extravasation. These changes contribute to airway edema, hypovolemia, and distributive shock, with potentially fatal consequences. In this review, besides mechanisms (endotypes) underlying IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, we also provide a brief overview of IgG-, complement-, contact system-, cytokine- and mast cell-mediated reactions that can result in phenotypes resembling IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Such classifications can lead the way to precision medicine approaches to the management of this complex disease. Full article