January 20, 2018

Evaluation of Potential Continuation Rules for Mepolizumab Treatment of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma

Background

Mepolizumab significantly reduces exacerbations in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. The early identification of patients likely to receive long-term benefit from treatment could ensure effective resource allocation.

Objective

To assess potential continuation rules for mepolizumab in addition to initiation criteria defined as 2 or more exacerbations in the previous year and blood eosinophil counts of 150 cells/μL or more at initiation or 300 cells/μL or more in the previous year.

Association of Disease Severity With Skin Microbiome and Filaggrin Gene Mutations in Adult Atopic Dermatitis

Key Points
Question  Is the skin microbiome in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) associated with disease severity and filaggrin gene mutations?
Findings  In this case-control study, bacterial diversity (alpha diversity) of the skin microbiome in patients with AD was inversely correlated with disease severity for both lesional and nonlesional skin. Skin microbiome composition (beta diversity) in nonlesional skin of patients with AD was linked to the presence of filaggrin gene mutations.
Meaning  The findings of this study suggest that the severity of AD influences the skin microbiome globally, even in nonlesional skin. Furthermore, our findings propose a possible association between skin microbiome and host genetics.

January 18, 2018

The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease


State of the Art ReviewBMJ 2018360 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5145 (Published 08 January 2018)Cite this as:  BMJ 2018;360:j51452018;360:j5145

    1. Jose C Clemente, assistant professor1,
    2. Julia Manasson, medical doctor2,
    3. Jose U Scher, assistant professor2
    Author affiliations
ABSTRACT
The role of the gut microbiome in models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease is now well characterized. Renewed interest in the human microbiome and its metabolites, as well as notable advances in host mucosal immunology, has opened multiple avenues of research to potentially modulate inflammatory responses.

Examining the association between maternal atopy and birth outcomes using a retrospective cohort in the southeastern region of the USA

Public health
Abstract
Objective To assess birth outcomes in primiparous women with diagnosis of non-asthmatic atopy (NAA). Researchers hypothesised that women with NAA would have reduced the risk of adverse birth outcomes compared with women without NAA. NAA is defined as having allergic rhinitis and/or atopic dermatitis.

Setting Women were mostly treated in primary care settings in South Carolina, USA.

January 14, 2018

Reference values for spirometry in elderly individuals: a cross-sectional study of different reference equations

Open Access
  • Joana BeloEmail author,
  • Teresa Palmeiro,
  • Iolanda Caires,
  • Ana L. Papoila,
  • Marta Alves,
  • Pedro Carreiro-Martins,
  • Maria A. Botelho and
  • Nuno Neuparth
Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine201813:4
Abstract
Background
Spirometry is the single most important test for the evaluation of respiratory function. The results are interpreted by comparing measured data with predicted values previously obtained from a reference population. Reference equations for spirometry have been discussed previously.

January 13, 2018

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Testing in Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses

Audio/Video
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January 10, 2018

Effect of air quality alerts on human health: a regression discontinuity analysis in Toronto, Canada

Open Access
Hong Chen, Qiongsi Li, MMath, Jay S Kaufman, PhD, Jun Wang, MSc, Ray Copes, MD, Yushan Su, PhD, Tarik Benmarhnia, PhD

Summary
Background
Ambient air pollution is a major health risk globally. To reduce adverse health effects on days when air pollution is high, government agencies worldwide have implemented air quality alert programmes. Despite their widespread use, little is known about whether these programmes produce any observable public-health benefits. We assessed the effectiveness of such programmes using a quasi-experimental approach.

December 30, 2017

Recovery of hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis suppression during treatment with inhaled corticosteroids for childhood asthma

Authors Gangadharan AMcCoy PPhyo A, McGuigan MP, Dharmaraj P, Ramakrishnan R, McNamara PS, Blair J
Published 15 December 2017 Journal of Asthma and Allergy Volume 2017:10 Pages 317—326
Objective: To describe recovery of adrenal insufficiency in asthmatic children treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and cortisol replacement therapy.