Asthma

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to synthesize the evidence on the construct validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D and compare them with asthma-specific health-related quality-of-life scales, to guide further research and clinical applications in asthma. METHODS: We searched key databases from inception to 1 June, 2024 and used the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) method to appraise the evidence. The effect size estimates were aggregated using the inverse variance method to evaluate the relative efficiency of EQ-5D measures against the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and/or its corresponding preference-based index, Asthma Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (AQL-5D)...

BACKGROUND: Nonattendance at scheduled outpatient visits among children with asthma has been associated with an increased risk of acute asthma events and increased health care expenses. Specific risk factors for nonattendance have been suggested, but a comprehensive overview is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors for nonattendance among children with asthma and assess whether nonattendance associates with acute events through a systematic review and meta-analysis...

The heterogeneous nature of asthma results in a wide range of presentations during exacerbation. Despite UK pre-hospital management guidelines focusing on β₂ agonists, variables such as cause, severity, underlying health, comorbidities, and drug side effects can often make emergency treatment optimisation difficult. This article examines paramedics' methods of observing, perceiving, interpreting, and treating asthma with β₂ agonists, often acting on limited information in rapidly evolving situations...

BACKGROUND: We investigated dyspnea, its associated risk factors, and its impact on healthcare utilization, quality of life, and work productivity in adults with undiagnosed respiratory symptoms. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the impact of dyspnea in adults with undiagnosed respiratory symptoms? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This population-based study included 2857 adults who were experiencing respiratory symptoms. These individuals had not been previously diagnosed with any lung conditions and were recruited from 17 Canadian centers using random digit-dialing...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Peganum harmala L., a traditional Uyghur ethnic medicine widely used in China, is commonly used in the treatment of conditions such as hemiplegia, forgetfulness, cough, and asthma. Harmine and other β-carboline alkaloids, one of the main active ingredients in P. harmala, have exhibited various pharmacological activities, including anti-Alzheimer's, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of harmine on improving ethanol-induced memory impairment remain unclear...

Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) is the most common inborn error of immunity (IEI). Unlike many IEIs, evidence of a role for highly penetrant rare variants in SIgAD is lacking. Previous SIgAD studies have had limited power to identify common variants due to their small sample size. We overcame this problem first through meta-analysis of two existing GWAS. This identified four novel common-variant associations and enrichment of SIgAD-associated variants in genes linked to Mendelian IEIs. SIgAD showed evidence of shared genetic architecture with serum IgA and a number of immune-mediated diseases...

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To develop the criteria of small airways response to bronchodilators (by spirometry indices maximal expiratory flow (MEF50 and MEF25) as the markers of uncontrolled asthma course. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The study involved 92 participants (64 boys and 28 girls) aged 6 to 17 years (60 were less than 12 years old) with diagnosed asthma. Asthma control was assessed with the use of Asthma Control Test and Asthma Control Questionnaire...

INTRODUCTION: Children in boarding schools spend most of their time without their parents or caregivers, causing concerns about the suitability of such schools for children with asthma. This study assessed individuals' opinions regarding the suitability of boarding secondary schools for children with asthma. METHODS: A qualitative design was adopted for this study using a focus group discussion held on a social media platform (WhatsApp®) of the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG), The group comprised 150 registered members...

BACKGROUND: Oscillometry devices (also termed forced oscillation technique) devices such as MasterScreen-IOS® (Jaeger, Hochberg, Germany) and MostGraph-01® (Chest, Tokyo, Japan) are useful for obtaining physiological assessments in patients with obstructive lung diseases, including asthma. However, as oscillometry measurements have not been fully compared between MasterScreen-IOS® and MostGraph-01® in patients with asthma, it is unknown whether there are differences in the measurements between the devices...

The presence of fungi in tracheal wash (TW) of horses was recently linked to mild-moderate equine asthma, indicating a possible causal role; however, increased numbers of fungi may also stem from asthma-related alteration of tracheal mucus clearance or from environmental exposure. Our objective was to elucidate the association between the presence of fungi in TW and asthma status while controlling for relevant confounders. We conducted a retrospective case-control study involving 73 horses, including 34 controls and 39 asthmatic cases...

The importance of the complex interplay between the microbiome and mucosal immunity, particularly within the respiratory tract, has gained significant attention due to its potential implications for the severity and progression of lung diseases. Therefore, this review summarizes the specific interactions through which the respiratory tract-specific microbiome influences mucosal immunity and ultimately impacts respiratory health. Furthermore, we discuss how the microbiome affects mucosal immunity, considering tissue-specific variations, and its capacity in respiratory diseases containing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer...

INTRODUCTION: Although some factors associated with asthma symptom deterioration and risk of exacerbation have been identified, these are not yet fully characterised. We conducted a clinical modelling and simulation study to understand baseline factors affecting symptom control, reliever use and exacerbation risk in patients with moderate-severe asthma during follow-up on regularly dosed inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) monotherapy, or ICS/long-acting beta2 -agonist (LABA) combination therapy...

G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) make up around 3-4% of the human genome and are the targets of one-third of FDA-approved drugs. GPCRs typically exist as monomers but also aggregate to form higher-order oligomers, including dimers. β2 AR, a pharmacologically relevant GPCR, is known to be targeted for the treatment of asthma and cardiovascular diseases. The activation of β2 AR at the dimer level remains under-explored. In the current study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed to understand activation-related structural changes in β2 AR at the dimer level...

OBJECTIVES: To find possible relationship between asthma exacerbation and metabolomic profile of airways, assessed by non-invasive method - free volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled air in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 80 children aged 4-18 years with asthma: 42 children with a min. 3 asthma exacerbations in the past 12 months, and 38 children without a history of exacerbations in the past year. During the study visit, each patient was examined, medical history (including information regarding atopy and eosinophil blood count) was taken, spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were tested, an exhaled air sample was taken to test for the presence of VOCs, and the patient also completed standardized form - Asthma Control Questionnaire ...

This study outlines asthma burden trends across age, sex, regions and risk factors in 'Belt and Road' (B&R) countries from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 data. Incidence, mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and risk factors for asthma were measured. India, China and Indonesia bore the heaviest burden in 2019. Despite the significant decline in the average annual percent change for age-standardized mortality and years of life lost from 1990 to 2019, increases were observed in several East Asian, Central Asian, North African and Middle Eastern countries between 2010 and 2019...

Chelidonium majus L. ( C. majus) , commonly known as "Bai Qu Cai" in China, belongs to the genus Chelidonium of the Papaveraceae family. It has rich medicinal value, such as alleviating coughs, asthma, spasms and pain. Recent studies have demonstrated that C. majus is abundant in various alkaloids, which are the primary components of C. majus and have a range of pharmacological effects, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor effects. So far, 94 alkaloids have been isolated from C...

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) for Alternaria alternata ( A. alt ) and Dermatophagoides farinae ( Der f ) extracts remains largely unknown in China. We sought to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy caused by AIT agents manufactured in China of patients who are sensitized to A. alt and Der f . METHODS: Patients aged 5-27 years with asthma and perennial allergic rhinitis (AR), and AIT with A. alt and Der f were recruited, and then classified into two groups: A...

Aspergillus fumigatus can induce allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), an immunological hypersensitivity reaction that frequently exacerbates the symptoms of cystic fibrosis and asthma patients. Due to persistent symptoms, a considerable percentage of patients with ABPA in India, a country where tuberculosis is widespread, are initially misdiagnosed as having pulmonary tuberculosis. We present a case of ABPA in a male industry worker, who was diagnosed after one year of having symptoms and has successfully recovered since...

The immune responses play a profound role in the progression of lung lesions in both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Dendritic cells, as the "frontline" immune cells responsible for antigen presentation, set up a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity in the course of these diseases. Among the receptors equipped in dendritic cells, Toll-like receptors are a group of specialized receptors as one type of pattern recognition receptors, capable of sensing environmental signals including invading pathogens and self-antigens...

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily that has gained considerable attention over the last decade for its observed ability to reverse age-related deterioration of multiple tissues, including the heart. Yet as many researchers have struggled to confirm the cardioprotective and anti-aging effects of GDF11, the topic has grown increasingly controversial, and the field has reached an impasse. We postulated that a clearer understanding of GDF11 could be gained by investigating its health effects at the population level...