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Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2019 16;15:24. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

5Department of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) poses a global health problem and can be challenging to treat. Many of the current symptomatic treatments for AR have been available for decades, yet there has been little improvement in patient quality of life or symptom burden over the years. In this review, we ask why this might be and explore the pathophysiological gaps that exist within the various AR treatment classes. Read More

Rev Alerg Mex 2019 Jan-Mar;66(1):44-54

Clínica El Ávila, Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Caracas, Venezuela.

Background: Few studies in tropical developing countries have utilized molecular diagnosis to characterize allergen-specific responses to aeroallergens.

Objective: To investigate the in vivo and in vitro responses of IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens in allergic patients with rhinitis and/or asthma.

Methods: A prospective study in which patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma were included. Read More

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are chronic inflammatory diseases of airway and affect the disease severity each other.

Objective: We performed this study to examine whether nasal saline irrigation (NSI) improves bronchial hyperresponsiveness and clinical parameters in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: We enrolled 20 children with AR and asthma aged between 6-18 years. Read More

Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morgantown, WV, USA. Electronic address:

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with varying severity and subtypes. Recent reviews of epidemiologic studies have identified cleaning and disinfecting activities (CDAs) as important risk factors for asthma-related outcomes among healthcare workers. However, the complexity of CDAs in healthcare settings has rarely been examined. Read More

Ind Health 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Public Health Department, Medicine and Health Sciences School, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia.

This study explored the potential association between chronic exposure to pesticide mixtures including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers. Sociodemographic and occupational data, respiratory symptoms and spirometric data were collected. Paraquat in spot urine samples were quantified with solid-phase extraction high-performance liquid chromatography. Read More

Semin Immunopathol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Centre for Cancer Biology, The University of South Australia and SA Pathology, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.

Invariant and semi-invariant T cells are emerging as important regulators of host environment interactions at barrier tissues such as the airway and skin. In contrast to conventional T cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells express T cell receptors of very limited diversity. iNKT and MAIT cells recognise antigens presented by the MHC class 1-like monomorphic molecules CD1d and MR1, respectively. Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2019 Feb;8(2):663-668

Department of Internal Medicine, Jazan University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR) represent a global health problem, affecting 10-25% of the world population. There is clear evidence to support the concept that allergic diseases are influenced by genetic predisposition and environmental exposure.

Objectives: To assess the severity and prevalence of AR among school children in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. Read More

Clin Mol Allergy 2019 2;17. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Background: There is a strong and consistent association between IgE sensitization and allergy, wheeze, eczema and food hypersensitivity. These conditions are also found in non-sensitized humans, and sensitization is found among individuals without allergy-related diseases. The aim of this study was to analyse the sensitization profile in a representative sample of the population, and to relate patterns of allergens and allergen components to allergic symptoms. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

The Affiliated Luohu Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Luohu Hospital Group, Shenzhen, China.

Background: Environmental pollutants, which coexist with allergens, have been associated with the exacerbation of asthma. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We sought to determine whether benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) co-exposure with dermatophagoides group 1 allergen (Der f 1) can potentiate Der f 1-induced asthma and its underlying mechanisms. Read More

World Allergy Organ J 2019 30;12(4):100024. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Department of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.

Background: Food allergy (FA) is a common public health problem that affects both children and adults. Empirical knowledge of the burden of FA in Kuwait is limited. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of FA among schoolchildren in Kuwait and assess associations between FA and the coexistence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 26;10:570. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

The primary function of the lung is efficient gas exchange between alveolar air and alveolar capillary blood. At the same time, the lung protects the host from continuous invasion of harmful viruses and bacteria by developing unique epithelial barrier systems. Thus, the lung has a complex architecture comprising a mixture of various types of cells including epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and immune cells. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 10;9(1):5862. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an infection of fetal membranes and complicates 5.2% to 28.5% of all live births. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia Children's Hospital, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Imbalance, or dysbiosis, of the gut microbiome of infants has been linked to an increased risk of asthma and allergic diseases. Most studies to date have provided a wealth of data showing correlations between early-life risk factors for disease and changes in the structure of the gut microbiome that disrupt normal immunoregulation. These studies have typically focused on one specific risk factor, such as mode of delivery or early-life antibiotic use. Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Allergy Research Unit, Kingston General Health Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Eur Respir J 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Occupational Lung Disease, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.

Background: Historical data suggest 15% of laboratory animal workers develop IgE sensitisation and 10% symptoms of laboratory animal allergy (LAA), including occupational asthma. Individually ventilated cages (IVC) are replacing conventional open cages; we sought to evaluate their impact on the development of LAA.

Methods: We surveyed 750 laboratory animal workers and measured airborne Mus m 1 (mouse allergen) levels in seven UK institutions. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Uniersität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Comprehensive Allergy-Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, member of GA2LEN, Berlin, Germany.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a proven therapeutic option for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Many guidelines or national practice guidelines have been produced but the evidence-based method varies, many are complex and none propose care pathways. This paper reviews care pathways for AIT using strict criteria and provides simple recommendations that can be used by all stakeholders including health professionals. Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA; in Vivo: Planetary Health: an affiliate of the World Universities Network (WUN), West New York, NJ 07093 USA.

Allergy 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Formerly professor of Occupational Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.

Occupational exposure to foods is responsible for up to 25% of cases of occupational asthma and rhinitis. Animal and vegetable high-molecular weight proteins present in aerosolized foods during food processing, additives, preservatives, antioxidants and food contaminants are the main inhalant allergen sources. Most agents typically cause IgE-mediated allergic reactions, causing a distinct form of food allergy (Class 3 food allergy). Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Effects Laboratory, Division Morgantown, WV, USA.

Industrial sensitizing agents (allergens) in living and working environments play an important role in eliciting type I allergic disorders including asthma and allergic rhinitis. Successful management of allergic diseases necessitates identifying their specific causes (i.e. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Inflammation, structural and functional abnormalities within the airways are key features of asthma. Although these processes are well-documented, their expression varies across the heterogeneous spectrum of asthma. Type 2 inflammatory responses are characterized by increased levels of eosinophils, FeNO and type 2 cytokines in blood and/or airways. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

MACVIA-France, Fondation partenariale FMC VIA-LR, Montpellier, France; Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Department Institute Pierre Louis of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM and UPMC Sorbonne Université, Medical School Saint Antoine, Paris, France; INSERM U 1168, VIMA : Ageing and chronic diseases Epidemiological and public health approaches, Villejuif, Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, Montigny le Bretonneux, France and Euforea, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background: Mobile health may be used to generate innovative insights into optimizing treatment to improve allergic rhinitis control.

Objectives: A cross-sectional real world observational study was undertaken in 22 countries to complement a pilot study and bring novel information on medication use, disease control and work productivity in everyday life of patients with allergic rhinitis.

Methods: A mobile phone app (Allergy Diary, freely available Google Play and Apple stores) was used to collect data of daily visual analogue scales (VAS) for (i) overall allergic symptoms, (ii) nasal, ocular and asthma symptoms, (iii) work, as well as (iv) medication use using a treatment scroll list including all allergy medications (prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC)) customized for 22 countries. Read More

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2019 Apr 3:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Background: Assessing high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in relation to allergic endpoints can shed light on both the mechanisms of allergic disease development and early non-communicable disease prevention. However, only a few epidemiological studies so far have investigated the relationship in children and adolescents, and the results were mixed.

Objectives: We sought to examine the interrelation between hs-CRP levels and allergic outcomes using a larger population size and a longitudinal study design. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

RNSA (Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique), Brussieu, France.

Background: Google Trends (GT), a Web-based surveillance tool, explores the searching trends of specific queries via Google and is proposed to reflect the real-life epidemiology of allergic rhinitis and asthma. However, the validation of GTs against pollen concentrations is missing at the country level.

Objectives: In the present study, we used GTs (i) to compare the terms related to allergy in France, (ii) to assess seasonal variations across the country for five years and (iii) to compare GTs and pollen concentrations for 2016. Read More

World Allergy Organ J 2019 26;12(1):100008. Epub 2019 Jan 26.

Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic allergic disease typically accompanied by atopy and thus, a tendency to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma or food allergies. Currently, individuals with AD are classified into those presenting with AD alone and those presenting with AD along with other allergic diseases (AD+). It is important to identify the various endophenotypes of AD using anthropometric, environmental, socio-economic, and disease history data in order to improve disease management. Read More

J Clin Invest 2019 Apr 1;129(4):1441-1451. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, USA.

The epithelial cell-derived cytokines thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IL-33, and IL-25 are central regulators of type 2 immunity, which drives a broad array of allergic responses. Often characterized as "alarmins" that are released by the barrier epithelium in response to external insults, these epithelial cell-derived cytokines were initially thought to act only early in allergic inflammation. Indeed, TSLP can condition dendritic cells to initiate type 2 responses, and IL-33 may influence susceptibility to asthma through its role in establishing the immune environment in the perinatal lungs. Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 18;11(1):e3912. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Pediatrics, Central Clinical Hospital of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, RUS.

Introduction Smoking is one of the leading causes of death. Smoking also decreases lung efficiency and impairs lung function in children of all ages. Second-hand tobacco smoking increases both the frequency and severity of childhood asthma. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Regensburg, Germany.

Background: Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 ( NPSR1) and Retinoid Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor Alpha (RORA ) interact biologically, are both known candidate genes for asthma, and are involved in controlling circadian rhythm. Thus, we assessed (1) whether interactions between RORA and NPSR1 specifically affect the nocturnal asthma phenotype and (2) how this may differ from other asthma phenotypes.

Methods: Interaction effects between 24 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RORA and 35 SNPs in NPSR1 on asthma and nocturnal asthma symptoms were determined in 1432 subjects (763 asthmatics [192 with nocturnal asthma symptoms]; 669 controls) from the Multicenter Asthma Genetic in Childhood/International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood studies. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2019 14;6:74. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.

Equine asthma syndrome (EAS) is a common problem that affects horses of any age. Severe EAS is reported to affect 10-20% of adult horses in the northern hemisphere, while mild/moderate EAS is reported to affect 60-100% of adult horses, depending on the population and geographic region. For both severe and mild/moderate EAS, the presence of lower airway inflammation is attributed to airborne "triggers" such as dust, mold, and bacterial components that horses encounter in hay and stable-environments; and treatment recommendations for horses with EAS often include full-time pasture turnout. Read More

Eur Respir J 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Early allergic sensitisation (atopy) is the first step in the development of allergic diseases such as atopic asthma later in life. Genes and pathways associated with atopy and atopic asthma in children and adolescents have not been well characterised.A transcriptome-wide association study of atopy and atopic asthma in white blood cells or whole blood was conducted in a cohort of 460 Puerto Ricans aged 9-20 years (EVA-PR) and in a cohort of 250 Swedish adolescents (BAMSE). Read More

J Asthma 2019 Mar 28:1-9. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

a Chest Diseases Department , Strasbourg University Hospital , Strasbourg , France.

Objective: Environmental Exposure Chamber (EEC) should have standardized and controlled allergenic and non-allergenic exposures to perform reproducible clinical studies. The aim was to demonstrate that mite exposure in the Alyatec EEC could induce early (EAR) and/or late asthmatic reactions (LAR) in at least 60% of subjects allergic to mite.

Methods: The EEC has a volume of 147-m with 20 seats. Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, National Institute of Public Health, Budapest, Hungary.

Background: Higher exposure to air pollution may contribute to the increased prevalence of allergic diseases in children. The study investigated the associations between the prevalence of childhood respiratory diseases and long-term exposure to NO2, SO2, PM10, furthermore some surrogates in schoolchildren in Hungary. We also analysed the possible modification effects of some confounders by interaction analysis. Read More

PLoS One 2019 26;14(3):e0214286. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Epidemiological studies have shown sex differences in prevalence of non-allergic asthma. Recent reports demonstrated negative effects of androgen signaling on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), explaining a potential mechanism behind sex bias in asthma prevalence. To further understand sex-related differences in ILC2 functions and ILC2 intrinsic or lung environmental mechanisms behind it, we have investigated the effects of sex and age on lung ILC2 function, the amounts of ILC2-activating cytokines in the lung and gene expression profiles of male and female ILC2s. Read More

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2019 May;11(3):357-366

Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: Prenatal maternal stress affects offspring's atopic dermatitis (AD) development, which is thought to be mediated by the oxidative stress. We aimed to evaluate the difference in leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker for exposure to oxidative stress, according to the prenatal stress exposure and the later AD development.

Methods: From a birth cohort (the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases) that had displayed a good epidemiologic association between the exposure to prenatal stress and AD development in the offspring, we selected 68 pairs of samples from 4 subject groups based on the level of prenatal maternal stress and later AD development. Read More

Clin Transl Allergy 2019 11;9:16. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

115Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL USA.

Aims: Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK (MASK) belongs to the Fondation Partenariale MACVIA-LR of Montpellier, France and aims to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the life cycle, whatever their gender or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease and to improve the digital transformation of health and care. The ultimate goal is to change the management strategy in chronic diseases.

Methods: MASK implements ICT technologies for individualized and predictive medicine to develop novel care pathways by a multi-disciplinary group centred around the patients. Read More

Presse Med 2019 Mar 23;48(3 Pt 1):262-273. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Inserm U1168, VIMA (aging and chronic diseases, epidemiological and public health approaches), Villejuif, France; UVSQ, UMR-S 1168, université Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.

The prevalence of asthma has increased rapidly since the early 1970s, and only changes in exposure to environmental factors; which go together with changes in lifestyle, are likely to explain such a rapid increase. Exposure to allergens is a risk factor for allergic sensitization, and allergic sensitization is a risk factor for allergic asthma. However, apart from indoor mold exposure as a risk factor for childhood asthma, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the associations between allergen exposure and asthma development are causal. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.

Children living in lower-income urban communities are at much greater risk of developing asthma, going to the emergency department for an asthma attack and being hospitalized for asthma than children living in upper- and middle-income communities. For many asthmatic children living in urban communities, especially those with greater morbidity, the allergic pathway is important in the etiology of the disease. The stages of developing allergic disease can be divided into the onset of allergic sensitization, development of allergic disease and subsequent exacerbations, and it is useful to consider the relevance of interventions at each of these stages. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Building, 3615 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Allergic eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, allergen-mediated inflammatory disease of the esophagus, and the most common cause of prolonged dysphagia in children and young adults in the developed world. While initially undistinguished from gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated esophageal eosinophilia, EoE is now recognized as a clinically distinct entity that shares fundamental inflammatory features of other allergic conditions and is similarly increasing in incidence and prevalence. The clinical and epidemiologic associations between EoE and other allergic manifestations are well established. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2019 May 21;178(5):781-782. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

The Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms in Asthma, King's College London, London, UK.

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Mar 19;16(6). Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Research on the health impacts of green environments has mainly been conducted in developed countries. Differences in the urban forms between China and Western countries make it essential to understand the role of greenspace in Chinese settings. From 2014 to 2015, middle school students ( = 5643) in Suzhou, China were enrolled in a study on the health effect of residential greenness. Read More

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2019 02;39(2):181-185

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.

Objective: To explore the clinical symptoms, lung function and airway inflammation phenotype characteristics of asthmatic patients who are sensitive to cold stimulation.

Methods: Eighty patients with newly diagnosed bronchial asthma or with mild to moderate acute exacerbation of previously diagnosed bronchial asthma but without regular treatment were selected. According to whether cold air stimulation could induce respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheeze, the patients were divided into cold-insensitive group (45 cases) and cold-sensitive group (35 cases). Read More

Front Immunol 2019 4;10:364. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Interleukin (IL)-33 belongs to IL-1 cytokine family which is constitutively produced from the structural and lining cells including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells of skin, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs that are exposed to the environment. Different from most cytokines that are actively secreted from cells, nuclear cytokine IL-33 is passively released during cell necrosis or when tissues are damaged, suggesting that it may function as an alarmin that alerts the immune system after endothelial or epithelial cell damage during infection, physical stress, or trauma. IL-33 plays important roles in type-2 innate immunity via activation of allergic inflammation-related eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, macrophages, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) through its receptor ST2. Read More

J Asthma Allergy 2019 1;12:71-81. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

3E Therapeutics Corporation, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Purpose: Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects ~20% of the population worldwide. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of iodixanol nasal solution (Nasapaque) for AR treatment, using the Allergen BioCube (ABC), an environmental exposure unit. Iodixanol is a commonly used contrast media agent that shows efficacy on the signs and symptoms of AR. Read More

Environ Int 2019 May 14;126:735-746. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

During 2010-2012, we conducted an observational study on household environment and health outcomes among 40,010 preschool children from seven cities of China. Here we examined associations of six dampness-related indicators (visible mold spots, visible damp stains, damp clothing and/or bedding, water damage, condensation on windowpane, moldy odor) in the current residence and three dampness-related indicators (visible mold spots, condensation on windowpane, moldy odor) in the early residence with childhood asthma and rhinitis. In the multi-level logistic regression analyses, visible mold spots and visible damp stains in the current residence were significantly associated with the increased odds of doctor-diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis during lifetime-ever (adjusted odd ratios (AORs) range: 1. Read More

Epigenetics 2019 Mar 15:1-22. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

a Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.

Epigenetic mechanisms integrate both genetic variability and environmental exposures. However, comprehensive epigenome-wide analysis has not been performed across major childhood allergic phenotypes. We examined the association of epigenome-wide DNA methylation in mid-childhood peripheral blood (Illumina HumanMethyl450K) with mid-childhood atopic sensitization, environmental/inhalant and food allergen sensitization in 739 children in two birth cohorts (Project Viva-Boston, and the Generation R Study-Rotterdam). Read More

Presse Med 2019 Mar 11;48(3 Pt 1):282-292. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, service de physiologie et explorations fonctionnelles, pôle de pathologie thoracique, 1, place de l'hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France; Université de Strasbourg, EA 3072, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address:

Smoking cessation remains a major issue for asthmatic smokers. Respiratory rehabilitation and respiratory physiotherapy have shown a benefit in controlling symptoms, preventing exacerbations and improving the quality of life. The control of the environment is crucial and must be approached in a global way. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Mar 13;9(3):e024594. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Introduction: The skin is an important barrier against environmental allergens, but infants have relatively impaired skin barrier function. There is evidence that impaired skin barrier function increases the risk of allergic sensitisation, atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy. We hypothesise that regular prophylactic use of emollients, particularly those that are designed to improve skin barrier structure and function, will help prevent these conditions. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Mar 13;19(1):303. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Background: Health information on the dimensions of asthma and allergic conditions in Khuzestan Province, as a major industrial and polluted area in Iran as and the Middle East, is inadequate. This study was performed to measure the prevalence of asthma and other allergic conditions in adults in Khuzestan Province.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in 17 villages and 27 cities of Khuzestan Province during the years 2017-2018 on 20 to 65 year old respondents. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Jun 2;668:760-767. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Despite reported health benefits of urban greenspace (gs), the epidemiological evidence is less clear for allergic disease. To address a limitation of previous research, we examined the associations of medium- and high-resolution residential gs measures and tree and/or grass canopies with allergic outcomes for children enrolled in the longitudinal cincinnati childhood allergy and air pollution study (ccaaps). We estimated residential gs based on 400 m radial buffers around participant addresses (n = 478) using the normalized differential vegetation index (ndvi) and land cover-derived urban greenspace (ugs) (tree and grass coverage, combined and separate) at 30 m and 1. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Environmental Health Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Background: Although bronchial responsiveness (BR) is usually categorized as normal or hyperresponsive to aid the diagnosis of asthma, it exists on a continuous spectrum, not in a dichotomous manner. We aimed to evaluate the distribution profile of BR in a general population of 7-year-olds.

Methods: In 2015, 7-year-old Korean children from a nationwide birth cohort study visited regional study hospitals for skin prick test, standard spirometry, and bronchial provocation to establish reference values for the general population. Read More

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2019 Mar 11;19(4):21. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., CHS 62-132, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1624, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is correlated with the development of persistent severe inflammatory disease of the upper airway including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The presence of S. Read More