Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection of global importance affecting the central nervous system and other organs such as the lungs. The severity of cryptococcosis is largely dependent on the integrity of the host immune system. The protection to cryptococcosis is associated with Th1 immune response while Th2 results in susceptibility to Cryptococcus infection. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease commonly coordinated by Th2 immune response. The airway inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients is characterized by increased neutrophils, macrophages, proteases, IL-6, IL-8, and Th1 cytokines. Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome (ACOS) patients present phenotype that shares Th1 (COPD) and Th2 (asthma). There are several risk factors associated with Cryptococcus infection, including smoking, that cause airway remodeling and dysregulated and damaging airway inflammation.
Objectives: Chronic Rhinosinusitis without Nasal Polyps (CRSsNP) and with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) affect 10% and 1-4% of the general population respectively. Early detection and treatment of CRSwNP might prevent recalcitrant disease forms. The aim of this prospective controlled study was to evaluate association between endoscopic, radiologic, and self-reported CRSwNP, and a family history in defining CRSwNP. Methods: This study involved 73 CRS patients aged 18 years or over undergoing CRS-surgical consultation at the Tampere University Hospital. Data of sinus Computed Tomography (CT) scans and nasal endoscopy was obtained from patient records. Sixty controls ±allergic rhinitis underwent clinical examination. All subjects filled a questionnaire. Associations were analyzed by Chi square and adjusted regression models. The predictive performance of various parameters was assessed using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: A total of 33% of CRSwNP patients reported not having Nasal Polyps (NPs), while 18% of CRSsNP patients reported having NPs (p < 0.001). Radiologic Nasal Polyp (NP) score differentiated CRSwNP from CRSsNP with an AUROC of 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-1.00). The AUROC value for Lund-Mackay (LM) score was 0.84 (0.75-0.94). Positive family history of NP did not differ significantly between CRS and control groups. Family history of allergy or asthma was given with certainty, whereas CRS patients had uncertainty of reporting NPs in family compared to controls (adjusted OR=6.02, 95% CI 1.98-18.30, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in situations where nasal endoscopy cannot be performed, early detection of CRSwNP could result from information obtained from sinus CT scans and patients, in comparison to family history which has lower predictive value. However validation studies with larger sample sizes are still needed.
Background: Food allergy topic has become more widely discussed in developed countries, but with less interest in Middle Eastern Arabian Countries. Objectives: The main objective of this paper is to assess the knowledge and perception of schoolteachers about food allergy. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among a sample of 360 school teachers between May 2013 and February 2014 in province of Jazan in Saudi Arabia, using a validated web-based self-administered survey. Results: The results revealed that almost (59.7%) of the schoolteachers had a medium insufficient knowledge about food allergy; only 17.3% had good knowledge about food allergy. Female teachers had higher knowledge scores (58.5 ± 17.2) as compared to male (51.8 ± 16.0) with statistically significant difference (p = 0.017). The majority of schoolteachers have a significantly poor knowledge in most of food allergy domains. More than half of responders either do not know or they disagree that the food allergy is a serious problem and can lead to death. Regression analysis revealed that participant’s level of knowledge is significantly associated with school teacher’s attitudes towards food allergy (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.39 - 0.92, p = 0.01), practice (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.11 - 2.56, p = 0.01), and years of experiences (OR = 1.8, 95% CI; 1.15 - 2.98, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Knowledge of food allergy among schoolteachers is not adequate, failing to recognize and treat fatal food allergy reactions necessitate an urgent need to set a school policy to improve the food allergy situation.
Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Teva Pharma) and interferon beta are the two only disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis. Glatiramer acetate is known for frequently simulating mild, anaphylactoid reactions while true, IgEmediated allergic reactions have been hardly reported so far. Herein, we report two females suffering from multiple sclerosis who experienced rapidly aggravating hypersensitivity-reactions upon treatment with glatiramer acetate. Patient one experienced an asthma attack, patient two an exacerbation of her urticaria and angioedema. An IgE-mediated mechanism could be demonstrated by a positive intradermal test to a 1:1000 dilution in the first 31-year old and by a positive skin prick test to a 1:10 diluted skin prick test in the second 32-year old second woman.
Background: In problematic severe asthma (PSA), inflammatory phenotypes can by identified by assessing cellularity in induced sputum (IS) samples. However, there have been few studies employing sputum induction (SI) in pediatric patients. Objectives: To assess the success rate, safety and tolerability of SI, as well as IS sample cellularity, in pediatric PSA patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 44 pediatric PSA patients. We collected IS samples using inhalations of nebulized saline solution. On the basis of the post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, % of predicted), we administered nebulization with 4.5% hypertonic saline (for patients with an FEV1 ≥ 60%) or 0.9% isotonic saline (for those with an FEV1 < 60%). We classified IS samples as satisfactory if there was ≤ 20% squamous cell contamination and cell viability was > 50%. Results: The observed success rate was 75% (95% CI: 60-86). Most of the patients provided satisfactory samples, although multiple SI sessions were required in some cases (27%). In comparison with the IS samples containing > 20% squamous cells, those containing ≤ 20% showed significantly more neutrophils (P = 0.02) and eosinophils (P = 0.03). The most common adverse events were mild wheezing (in 14%) and salty taste (in 9%). In 8% of the sessions, there was a ≥ 20% decrease in FEV1. Conclusion: In our sample of pediatric patients with PSA, sputum induction was safe and generally well tolerated, suggesting that it could be useful in the assessment of inflammatory processes in such patients.
