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Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2019 Jan 4:1-8. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan.

Background: Eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is characterized by massive pulmonary infiltration by eosinophils. Although serum periostin is a novel marker for eosinophil-dominant asthma, the upregulation of periostin in the airway of asthmatics is controversial. In this study, we examined whether periostin concentrations are elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with EP. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(1):e14017

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is rare and an idiopathic disorder. The disease has been associated with drugs, infection, or irradiation, and its relationship with asthma remains unclear.

Patient Concerns: We reported a case of a 49-year-old female patient after trastuzumab and radiation therapy for breast cancer. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2018 Dec 27;6(1):156. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: The prevalence of esophageal stenosis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors in the context of induced immune mucositis and esophagitis is extremely rare.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a patient with stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma treated for 6 months with nivolumab who developed bilateral sterile conjunctivitis followed by oropharyngeal mucositis and esophagitis complicated by a severe esophageal stenosis. The laryngeal margin and hypopharyngeal mucosa appeared highly inflammatory with fibrinous deposits. Read More

Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2018 18;14:87. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

1Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington, 6242 New Zealand.

Background: Periostin has been shown to be a marker of Type 2 airway inflammation, associated with airway eosinophilia. It has a potential role in identifying asthmatics who may be responsive to treatment with monoclonal antibody therapy directed against Type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-13, IL-4 receptor subunit-α and immunoglobulin E. The clinical utility of periostin measurements depends on better understanding of factors that may affect serum periostin levels, such as race. Read More

Clin Mol Allergy 2018 3;16:25. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

1Department of Surgery, Medicine, Molecular Biology and Critical Care, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Background: According to ATS/ERS document on severe asthma (SA), the management of these patients requires the identification and proper treatment of comorbidities, which can influence the control of asthma.

Methods: The aim of this study was to assess the independent effect of different comorbidities on clinical, functional and biologic features of SA. Seventy-two patients with SA according to GINA guidelines were examined. Read More

Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2019 Feb 3;260:28-36. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

R.C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Shirpur, Dhule, 425405, India.

Zizyphus jujuba Mill, a famous oriental traditional medicine, has been reported to exhibit diverse activities in biological systems including the respiratory system. However, a little information is available on its antiasthmatic activity. Jujuboside B (JB) is a natural saponin and one of the active constituent of fruits of Zizyphus jujuba. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(48):e13425

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong University.

Rationale: Extensive thrombosis in the portal venous system caused by hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is rare, and there is no consensus on anticoagulant and thrombolytic treatments for arteriovenous thrombosis caused by HES.

Patient Concerns: The clinical data of a patient with extensive thrombosis in his portal venous system (superior mesenteric, splenic, hepatic, and portal veins), renal artery thrombosis, and mesenteric thrombosis caused by HES with secondary gastrointestinal bleeding and intestinal necrosis were retrospectively analyzed. Before admission, his eosinophil count increased to 7. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2018 Nov 29;18(1):181. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Hyperbaric and Sleep Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11234 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA.

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and a predilection for the upper and lower respiratory tract. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is also a systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis, but EGPA is characterized by eosinophilic as well as granulomatous inflammation and is more commonly associated with asthma and eosinophilia. Polyangiitis overlap syndrome is defined as systemic vasculitis that does not fit precisely into a single category of classical vasculitis classification and/or overlaps with more than one category. Read More

J Asthma 2018 Nov 29:1-8. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

a Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases , Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences , Niigata , Japan.

Background: The anti-immunoglobulin E monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, is used to treat severe asthma and has the potential to ameliorate airway inflammation. However, the effect of omalizumab in ameliorating upper airway inflammation has not been fully elucidated.

Objective: We investigated the association of upper and lower airway inflammation with the response to omalizumab treatment. Read More

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2018;13:3651-3662. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital - IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain,

COPD is characterized by a pulmonary and systemic inflammatory process. Several authors have reported the elevation of multiple inflammatory markers in patients with COPD; however, their use in routine clinical practice has limitations. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a useful and cost-effective inflammatory marker derived from routine complete blood count. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(47):e11922

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City.

Some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have eosinophilic inflammation which may be evaluated via the measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) like asthma. The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether FeNO levels can be used to identify patients with COPD with eosinophilic inflammation who may respond to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy.This study included patients (N = 112) with COPD (age >18 years) who were divided into 4 groups depending upon whether they had high (≥25 parts per billion [ppb]) or low (<25 ppb) pretreatment (baseline) FeNO and if they were treated with either ICS plus long-acting β-agonist (ICS + LABA) or a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). Read More

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2018 Nov 20;19(1):76. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Background: Severe systemic reactions resembling septic shock have been described following trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) administration. Nearly all cases described in the literature occurred in HIV-infected patients.

Case Presentation: We present a 42-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) twice with fever and circulatory shock after taking a dose of TMP-SMX 800-160 mg. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide. Infection typically occurs through ingestion of undercooked molluscs or vegetables contaminated by infective larvae. Endemic regions were previously limited to southeast Asia and the Pacific basin; however, this parasite is seeing an alarming increase in global distribution with reported cases in more than 30 countries, including several states in the USA. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 1;9:2521. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Committee on Molecular Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.

Fas (CD95/APO-1) and its ligand (FasL/CD95L) promote the resolution of type 2 lung inflammation and eosinophilia. We previously found that Fas-deficiency on T cells, but not eosinophils, delayed resolution of inflammation. However, Fas can signal both cell death and have a positive signaling function that can actually activate cells. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 30;9:2395. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.

Asthma is characterized by chronic airway type-2 inflammation and eosinophilia, yet the mechanisms involved in chronic, non-resolving inflammation remain poorly defined. Previously, our group has found that when Rag-deficient mice were reconstituted with Fas-deficient B6 LPR T cells and sensitized and challenged, the mice developed a prolonged type-2-mediated airway inflammation that continued for more than 6 weeks after the last antigen exposure. Surprisingly, no defect in resolution was found when intact B6 LPR mice or T cell specific Fas-conditional knockout mice were sensitized and challenged. Read More

Allergy Asthma Proc 2018 Nov;39(6):449-455

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in patients referred to allergists can be difficult to manage. This is due to multiple factors, including overlaps in presentation with gastroesophageal reflux disease and proton-pump inhibitor responsive eosinophilia, remaining uncertainties regarding the role of different forms of allergy testing, and a variety of patient adherence issues. To highlight, in an objectively studied fashion, complications that can be faced when managing patients referred for EoE. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jun 30;10(6):e2899. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Pulmonary and Critical Care, Orlando VA Medical Center , Orlando, USA.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is a rare entity, often resulting in respiratory failure and the attended mortality. Daptomycin-induced AEP results from immune-mediated pulmonary epithelial cell injury. A 65-year-old male on treatment with intravenous daptomycin for three weeks came to the hospital for worsening dyspnea and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Read More

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019 Jan 1;316(1):L245-L254. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China.

Serine peptidase inhibitor, clade B, member 10 (SERPINB10) expression is increased in IL-13-stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells and in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation. However, the role of SERPINB10 in asthma remains unknown. We examined the association between epithelial SERPINB10 expression and airway eosinophilia in subjects with asthma and the role of Serpinb10 in allergic airway inflammation in an animal model. Read More

Molecules 2018 Oct 26;23(11). Epub 2018 Oct 26.

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

Allergic asthma is a highly prevalent airway inflammatory disease, which involves the interaction between the immune system, environmental and genetic factors. Co-relation between allergic asthma and gut microbiota upon the change of diet have been widely reported, implicating that oral intake of alternative medicines possess a potential in the management of allergic asthma. Previous clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have shown that the Pentaherbs formula (PHF) comprising five traditional Chinese herbal medicines Lonicerae Flos, Menthae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, Moutan Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma possesses an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential through suppressing various immune effector cells. Read More

Z Rheumatol 2018 Dec;77(10):907-922

Abt. für Rheumatologie, Immunologie und Rehabilitation, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Schweiz.

Eosinophilic granulocytes form peripheral effector cells controlled by Th2 lymphocytes, which cause local cell, tissue, and functional disorders of infiltrated organs via the release of cytotoxic basic proteins and oxygen radicals. Diseases associated with eosinophilia include systemic and organ-related forms. The lungs are involved in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome), acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, as well as in an organ manifestation in hypereosinophilic syndrome and certain parasitic diseases. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Oct 24;8(1):15750. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Laboratory of Systems Biology, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan.

IL-17C, which is a member of the IL-17 family of cytokines, is preferentially produced by epithelial cells in the lung, skin and colon, suggesting that IL-17C may be involved in not only host defense but also inflammatory diseases in those tissues. In support of that, IL-17C was demonstrated to contribute to development of T cell-dependent imiquimod-induced psoriatic dermatitis and T cell-independent dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis using mice deficient in IL-17C and/or IL-17RE, which is a component of the receptor for IL-17C. However, the roles of IL-17C in other inflammatory diseases remain poorly understood. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2018 Aug;30(4):452-454

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of serous cavity effusion related with paragonimiasis, so as to improve the physician's ability of the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: The clinical data of 50 cases of serous cavity effusion related with paragonimiasis diagnosed in a hospital in recent 3 years were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Among the 50 patients, there were 35 males and 15 females, and 35 children and 15 adults. Read More

Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2018 Oct;41(10):783-786

Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China.

To improve the clinical recognition of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis(EGPA) in clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. The clinical manifestations, pathological characteristic, imaging manifestations, diagnosis and the therapy of three patients with EGPA were presented. These 3 patients had asthma-like symptoms and extrapulmonary manifestations of systemic vasculitis. Read More

Lancet Respir Med 2018 Nov 18;6(11):855-862. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.

Background: Long-acting β agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) are the recommended initial maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with almost all LABAs dispensed in fixed combination with inhaled corticosteroids (LABA-ICS). We compared the effectiveness and safety of LABA-ICS versus LAMA treatment initiation as a function of blood eosinophilia, a potential biomarker of ICS effectiveness, in a real-world setting.

Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we identified a cohort of patients with COPD initiating treatment with a LAMA or LABA-ICS during 2002-15, age 55 years or older, from the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 12 18;35(12):2099-2103. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

First Chair and Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

We present a case of 44-year-old woman who underwent effective pharmacological treatment of severe mitral stenosis. The patient was hospitalized due to rapidly progressive dyspnea. Her medical history included asthma, perennial rhinitis, and nasal polyps. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 17;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Security Forces Hospital Program, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A 35-year-old black Saudi man, with a known case of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis since childhood, presented with joint pain and swelling, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea and lower extremity oedema. On examination, we found jugular venous distension, bilateral basal crepitation, wheezing and diffuse synovitis. Investigations were notable for peripheral blood eosinophilia, pericardial effusion and elongated structure in the left ventricular outflow tract on echocardiography, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and right upper lobe infiltrate on high-resolution CT scan. Read More

Ther Adv Respir Dis 2018 Jan-Dec;12:1753466618805662

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Lucus Augusti, C/ Dr Ulises Romero, nº 1, Lugo, 27004, Spain.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are both highly prevalent conditions that can coexist in the same individual: the so-called 'asthma -COPD overlap' (ACO). Its prevalence and prognosis vary widely depending on how ACO is defined in each publication, the severity of bronchial obstruction of patients included and the treatment they are receiving. Although there is a lack of evidence about the biology of ACO, the overlap of both diseases should express a mixture of a Th1 inflammatory pattern (characteristic of COPD) and a Th2 signature (characteristic of asthma). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(42):e12871

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Rationale: Eosinophilic pleural effusion in elderly patients is most commonly due to malignancies and infections.

Patient Concerns: In rare cases, pleural eosinophilia is associated with connective tissue disease.

Diagnoses: Presence of Hargraves cells, also called lupus erythematosus (LE) cells (polynuclear cells that have engulfed denatured nuclear material), was a key point of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) until 1997. Read More

Wien Klin Wochenschr 2018 Oct 15;130(19-20):581-588. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036, Graz, Austria.

Turk Thorac J 2018 Sep 13. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Clinic of Chest Diseases, Health Sciences University, Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: The choice of treatment according to the inflammation type in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) has been of recent interest. This study investigated the role of novel biomarkers, hospital outcomes, and readmission rates in the first month in patients with eosinophilic or neutrophilic AECOPD.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study in a Chest Teaching Hospital with hospitalized AECOPD patients. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2018 Nov 12;32(6):2074-2081. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux and microaspiration (MA) of gastric juice are associated with various human respiratory diseases but not in dogs.

Objective: To detect the presence of bile acids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of dogs with various respiratory diseases.

Animals: Twenty-seven West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF), 11 dogs with bacterial pneumonia (BP), 13 with chronic bronchitis (CB), 9 with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP), 19 with laryngeal dysfunction (LD), 8 Irish Wolfhounds (IWHs) with previous BPs, 13 healthy WHWTs, all privately owned dogs, and 6 healthy research colony Beagles METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional observational study with convenience sampling of dogs. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 8;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, East Tennessee State University James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.

Immunol Rev 2018 Nov;286(1):53-73

Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Type 2 immunity against pathogens is tightly regulated to ensure appropriate inflammatory responses that clear infection and prevent excessive tissue damage. Recent research has shown that type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) contribute to steady-state tissue integrity and exert tissue-specific functions. However, upon exposure to inflammatory stimuli, they also initiate and amplify type 2 inflammation by inducing mucus production, eosinophilia, and Th2 differentiation. Read More

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018 Nov 28;27(11):1191-1199. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Purpose: It remains unclear whether eosinophilia is useful for in guiding inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The goal of this study is to evaluate the risk of acute exacerbations, COPD-related hospitalisations/accident and emergency visits, and all-cause mortality with various levels of eosinophil counts among COPD patients using ICS.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2018 10;25:213-215. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a most dangerous complication that needs prompt treatment to reduce potentially death. There are many well-known prognostic factors indicate the morbidity and mortality in various thromboembolic events. Persistent eosinophilia in peripheral blood can lead to tissue infiltration and even organ damage, but the urgent event of thromboembolism in pulmonary provoked by eosinophil eosinophilia in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is relative an unusual presentation. Read More

BMJ Open 2018 Sep 11;8(9):e020341. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Objectives: The clinical implications of blood eosinophil level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission are still unknown. Thus, this study aimed to compare the features of such patients with and without blood eosinophilia.

Design: This was a retrospective case-control study. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2018 Sep - Oct;6(5):1446-1453

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill. Electronic address:

The workup of a patient found to have eosinophilia should follow a thorough path with a detailed history and physical examination aimed at eliciting eosinophilic organ involvement, followed by histological confirmation whenever possible. The differential diagnosis of hypereosinophilia is extensive, but a rational approach beyond the history and physical examination including serologic, blood, and bone marrow cell analyses, genetic testing, and radiologic imaging can distinguish many of the causes. Often input from specialists (eg, hematology, dermatology, pulmonary, gastroenterology, and neurology) can help narrow down the possibilities and eventually result in a specific diagnosis. Read More

Sci Immunol 2018 Sep;3(27)

Inflammation, Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a critical feature of wheezing and asthma in children, but the initiating immune mechanisms remain unconfirmed. We demonstrate that both recombinant interleukin-33 (rIL-33) and allergen [house dust mite (HDM) or ] exposure from day 3 of life resulted in significantly increased pulmonary IL-13CD4 T cells, which were indispensable for the development of AHR. In contrast, adult mice had a predominance of pulmonary LinCD45CD90IL-13 type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) after administration of rIL-33. Read More

Rev Med Liege 2018 Sep;73(9):439-441

Service de Pneumologie pédiatrique, CHU UCL Namur (site de Dinant), Belgique.

Acute idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia is a very rare cause of interstitial lung disease in children. Pathophysiological mechanisms and etiology remain poorly understood. It manifests as a febrile dyspnea, progressively worsening. Read More

Sci Transl Med 2018 Sep;10(457)

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

In asthma, airway nerve dysfunction leads to excessive bronchoconstriction and cough. It is well established that eosinophils alter nerve function and that airway eosinophilia is present in 50 to 60% of asthmatics. However, the effects of eosinophils on airway nerve structure have not been established. Read More

Respir Med 2018 09 24;142:66-72. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Although asthma, rhinitis/rhinosinusitis and peripheral eosinophilia are present in virtually all patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), the role of atopy in these patients is not well defined.

Objective: To clarify the role of atopy in patients affected with EGPA.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory and standard spirometry data have been abstracted from medical records. Read More

Internist (Berl) 2018 09;59(9):898-910

Abt. für Rheumatologie, Immunologie und Rehabilitation, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Schweiz.

Eosinophilic granulocytes form peripheral effector cells controlled by Th2 lymphocytes, which cause local cell, tissue, and functional disorders of infiltrated organs via the release of cytotoxic basic proteins and oxygen radicals. Diseases associated with eosinophilia include systemic and organ-related forms. The lungs are involved in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome), acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, as well as in an organ manifestation in hypereosinophilic syndrome and certain parasitic diseases. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Aug 20;19:978-984. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine, Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan.

BACKGROUND Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a clinical syndrome that can be life-threatening, depending on the organs involved. Although DRESS commonly presents with skin lesions, myocarditis and pericarditis associated with DRESS, although rare, can be fatal. A case of DRESS associated with myocarditis is presented with a review of the literature of 43 reported cases of DRESS associated with myocarditis that included the present case, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment of DRESS with corticosteroids. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2018 Aug 15;44(1):93. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122, Milan, Italy.

Background: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a serious life-treating condition characterized by skin eruption, fever, haematologic abnormalities, and multi-organ involvement that can be fatal if unrecognized, especially in patients with liver failure. Diagnosis may be difficult because it is rarely described in children and can mimic many different conditions.

Case Presentation: We report two cases of DRESS syndrome due to prolonged antibiotic treatment in young children in whom recovery occurred following different therapeutic approaches. Read More

Allergy Asthma Proc 2018 Jul;39(4):292-298

From the Department of Allergy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, Madrid. Spain.

Background: Patients with asthma exacerbations and frequent relapses that require admission to the emergency department (ED) often have more severe disease, worse quality of life, and higher use of health care resources.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify potential predictors of relapse after patients are treated in an ED for an asthma exacerbation.

Methods: A retrospective, noninterventional cohort study was conducted in adult patients who attended the ED of a tertiary hospital in 2014 for an asthma exacerbation. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Aug 9;2018. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Ophthalmology, Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida, USA.

A 58-year-old Caucasian male presented with left periorbital oedema extending to the nasal area for 1 year along with nasal discharge for 1 month. Lab work was significant for positive cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. CT scan showed solid mass along the nasal soft tissue with bony nasal destruction. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 11 7;18(11):638-640. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

1 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

An 8-year-old male from south Louisiana was diagnosed with Loeffler syndrome of suspected Ascaris origin. Further investigation of the farm recovered larvated, infective Ascaris eggs from the soil in drains surrounding pens on the family's small hog farm. Molecular analysis of the recovered eggs, in conjunction with Ascaris-specific IgE, inadequate farm management and sanitation, and behavioral risk factors indicate the patient had an Ascaris suum soil-transmitted infection. Read More

Asia Pac Allergy 2018 Jul 16;8(3):e24. Epub 2018 Jul 16.

Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Tokyo National Hospital, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan.

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) develops mainly in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis via types I and III hypersensitivity reactions to filamentous fungi. spp., especially , is the major causative fungus because of its small conidia, thermophilic hyphae, and ability to secrete serine proteases. Read More

COPD 2018 Jul 31:1-8. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

d Department of Intensive Care , CIBERES of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES) Hospital Universitario de Getafe , Getafe , Spain.

The aim of this study was to analyze whether FeNO levels in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) with hospital admission have better diagnostic value than eosinophilia in blood, and to evaluate its usefulness in predicting a better clinical response. An observational prospective study of patients with AECOPD was carried out. FeNO determinations were made on arrival at the emergency room (ER), at discharge and during stability 3-6 months after discharge. Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Oct 27;121(4):406-413. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health, and The NJH Cohen Family Asthma Institute, Denver, Colorado. Electronic address:

Objective: Severe asthma affects 5% to 10% of the adult asthma population and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and consumption of health care resources. Recently, several biologic medications have been approved for use in severe asthma. These medications target the type 2 inflammatory pathway, which is characterized by activation of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, which results in eosinophilia, high FeNO, and atopic features. Read More