The Role of Mobile Health Technologies in Stratifying Patients for AIT and Its Cessation: The ARIA-EAACI Perspective.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a proven therapeutic option for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Many international or national practice guidelines have been produced, but the evidence-based method varies and they do not usually propose care pathways. The present article considers the possible role of mobile health in AIT for allergic rhinitis/asthma. There are no currently available validated biologic biomarkers that can predict AIT success, and mobile health biomarkers have some relevance. In the current article, the following aspects will be discussed: patient stratification for AIT, symptom-medication scores for the follow-up of patients, clinical trials, as well as the…

Multicenter investigation of 1,036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds.

“Sniffin’ Sticks” is a test of nasal chemosensory performance that is based on penlike odor-dispensing devices. It is comprised of three tests of olfactory function: tests for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. Previous work has already established its test-retest reliability and validity in comparison to established measures of olfactory sensitivity. The results of this test are presented as a composite TDI score – i.e., the sum of results obtained for threshold, discrimination and identification measures. The present multicenter investigation aimed at providing normative values in relation to different age groups. To this end, 966 patients were investigated in 11 centers. …

Current therapeutical strategies for allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a common condition with increasing prevalence and is associated with several comorbid disorders such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. If allergen avoidance is not possible, allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only causal treatment option.This review focuses on current treatments and the future outlook for allergic rhinitis. Pharmacotherapy includes mast cell stabilizers, antihistamines, glucocorticosteroids (GCSs), leukotriene receptor antagonists, and nasal decongestants. Nasal GCSs are currently regarded as the most effective treatment and are considered first-line therapy together with non-sedating antihistamines. The new formulation MP29-02 combines the…

Sedation in allergic rhinitis is caused by the condition and not by antihistamine treatment

Sedation is regarded as a common side-effect of most H1-antihistamines. This view must be accepted, yet can hardly be assessed under treatment of allergic disorders. Since central sedative potency is hard to evaluate, different methods of measurement have been introduced in the four phases of clinical investigation. While tests of high complexity in early trials can detect true central effects, they seem to have the disadvantage of not taking into consideration the important interactions of drugs with the disorder. Therefore, we used a visual analog scale (VAS) as an instrument to demonstrate sedative effects in five clinical studies carried out between 1989 and 1994 with a total number of …

Personalized medicine for allergy treatment: Allergen immunotherapy still a unique and unmatched model

International audience; The introduction of personalized medicine (PM) has been a milestone in the history of medical therapy, because it has revolutionized the previous approach of treating the disease with that of treating the patient. It is known today that diseases can occur in different genetic variants, making specific treatments of proven efficacy necessary for a given endotype. Allergic diseases are particularly suitable for PM, because they meet the therapeutic success requirements, including a known molecular mechanism of the disease, a diagnostic tool for such disease, and a treatment blocking the mechanism. The stakes of PM in allergic patients are molecular diagnostics, to dete…

WITHDRAWN: Scaling up strategies of the Chronic Respiratory Disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3 – Area 5)

Telemedicine allows quantitative measuring of olfactory dysfunction in COVID‐19

The effect of short-term immunotherapy with molecular standardized grass and rye allergens on eosinophil cationic protein and tryptase in nasal secretions.

Activation of mast cells and eosinophils under pollen exposure can be inhibited by specific immunotherapy.The effect of short-term immunotherapy with 7 preseasonal injections of molecular standardized allergens from grass and rye pollen on eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and tryptase levels in nasal secretions has been compared with symptomatic drug treatment in an open, randomized study with 48 patients.Nasal reactivity and mediator levels in nasal secretions were measured at baseline, before season, in season, and after season.Symptom scores in the immunotherapy group were 134.5 (95% CI, 65 to 336) versus 386. 0 (95% CI, 185 to 563), significantly lower as in the drug-treated group. ECP…

ARIA‐EAACI care pathways for allergen immunotherapy in respiratory allergy

Funding Information: BSreports personal fees from Allergopharma, during the conduct of the study; grants from National Health Programm, grant, personal fees from Polpharma, ASTRA, personal fees from Mylan, Adamed, patient ombudsman, national Centre for Research and Development, Polish Allergology Society. Funding Information: NGP reports personal fees from Novartis, Nutricia, HAL, MENARINI/FAES FARMA, SANOFI, MYLAN/MEDA, BIOMAY, AstraZeneca, GSK, MSD, ASIT BIOTECH, Boehringer Ingelheim, grants from Gerolymatos International SA, Capricare. Funding Information: CA reports grants from Allergopharma, grants from Idorsia, Swiss National Science Foundation, Christine Kühne‐Center for Allergy Rese…

Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of daily monitoring visual analog scales in MASK-air®

International audience; Background: MASK-air® is an app that supports allergic rhinitis patients in disease control. Users register daily allergy symptoms and their impact on activities using visual analog scales (VASs). We aimed to assess the concurrent validity, reliability, and responsiveness of these daily VASs. Methods: Daily monitoring VAS data were assessed in MASK-air® users with allergic rhinitis. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating daily VAS values with those of the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) VAS, the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) score, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Allergic Specific (WPAI-AS) Questionnaire (work and activi…

Subacute effects of ozone exposure on cultivated human respiratory mucosa.

This study was designed to investigate subacute effects of long-term exposure of both healthy and chronically inflamed human respiratory mucosa to ozone. Functional and metabolic effects on ciliary beat frequency (CBF), release of interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and γ interferon (g-INF), as well as cellular viability and cytotoxicity, were monitored. Cell cultures of 60 specimens (healthy mucosa: n = 30, inflamed mucosa: n = 30) were exposed to synthetic air and to ozone-enriched synthetic air in different concentrations of WO, 500, and WOO μg/m3. Continuous expositions were performed using an air/liquid interface cell culture technique for a period of 4 weeks. CBF was monitore…

S2k-Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Patienten mit Asthma

ZusammenfassungDie vorliegende Leitlinie ist eine Neufassung und Aktualisierung der Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Patienten mit Asthma, welche die bisher für den deutschen Sprachraum gültige Version aus dem Jahr 2006 ablöst. Die Fülle an neuen Erkenntnissen zur Pathophysiologie und zu den Phänotypen von Asthma und das erweiterte Spektrum an diagnostischen und therapeutischen Möglichkeiten bei dieser Erkrankung machte eine Neufassung und Aktualisierung notwendig. Es werden sowohl für Kinder und Jugendliche als auch für Erwachsene mit Asthma die aktuellen, Evidenz-basierten diagnostischen und therapeutischen Empfehlungen dargelegt.

Olfactory function after microscopic endonasal surgery in patients with nasal polyps.

A controlled prospective study on 31 patients with nasal polyps was performed to evaluate the time course of olfactory function after endonasal surgery. A modified Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory function test was used to measure olfactory threshold, odor identification ability, and odor discrimination ability. The test was performed in all patients 1–3 days before surgery (V1), 7–10 days after surgery (V2), and after 1 (V3), 2 (V4), 3 (V5), and 6 (V6) months. Mean olfactory threshold in the CCCRC butanol test was 4.19 at V1 (= moderate hyposmia). At V2, it decreased to 3.46 (= severe hyposmia), before increasing to 5.16 at V3 and 5.22 at V4 (= mild hypo…

Technical standards in allergen exposure chambers worldwide - an EAACI Task Force Report

Allergen exposure chambers (AECs) can be used for controlled exposure to allergenic and non-allergenic airborne particles in an enclosed environment, in order to (i) characterize the pathological features of respiratory diseases and (ii) contribute to and accelerate the clinical development of pharmacological treatments and allergen immunotherapy for allergic disease of the respiratory tract (such as allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and allergic asthma). In the guidelines of the European Medicines Agency for the clinical development of products for allergen immunotherapy (AIT), the role of AECs in determining primary endpoints in dose-finding Phase II trials is emphasized. A…

Allergen-Immuntherapie in der aktuellen COVID-19-Pandemie – ein Positionspapier von ARIA, EAACI, AeDA, GPA und DGAKI (Kurzversion) – Positionspapier der deutschen ARIA-GruppeA in Kooperation mit der österreichischen ARIA-GruppeB, der schweizerischen ARIA-GruppeC, dem Ärzteverband Deutscher Allergologen (AeDA)D, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie (DGAKI)E und der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Allergologie (GPA)F in Kooperation mit der AG Klinische Immunologie, Allergologie und Umweltmedizin der DGHNO-KHCG und der Europäischen Akademie für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie (EAACI)H

Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Nasal Secretions and Blood Serum in Grass-Pollen Allergic Rhinitis

Concentration of the Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) measured in different body fluids has been demonstrated to be a good marker of eosinophilic inflammation. In allergic asthma, ECP levels in both broncho-alveolar-lavage (BAL) fluid and serum can be used to monitor disease activity. In allergic rhinitis, the value of ECP determinations in serum and nasal secretions was not directly compared, so far. In the present study, ECP levels in blood serum (Se) and nasal secretions (NS) of grass pollen allergic and healthy individuals under pollen exposure were analyzed. Forty-three grass-pollen allergic subjects and 19 healthy volunteers were included. Grass-pollen counts were measured using Bur…

Objective measures of nasal function

Numerous techniques to objectively measure nasal function are available to the rhinologic surgeon. Rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, laser Doppler flowmetry, saccharin transport time, determination of ciliary beat frequency, and olfactory and trigeminal event-related potentials are all techniques in current use. Rhinomanometry is the standard clinical tool used to indicate those patients complaining of nasal obstruction who are likely to benefit from septal and turbinate surgery. Acoustic rhinometry permits the precise localization of nasal stenoses and is the best predictor of a patient's postoperative satisfaction. It is, in addition, more sensitive than rhinomanometry in recording cha…

Three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation in the head and neck.

We evaluated the use of a novel three-dimensional ultrasound imaging device in patients with various head and neck lesions. The investigated system was found to be a valuable adjunct to conventional ultrasound in head and neck evaluations. A disadvantage of the three-dimensional system was the need for expensive technical equipment.

Comparison of olfactory function in patients with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis

Hyposmia is a common symptom in allergic rhinitis. However, little is known about differences in the olfactory function of patients with seasonal or perennial allergy. A prospective controlled study was performed on 28 patients with allergic rhinitis to grass pollen and on 47 patients with allergic rhinitis to mites. Sixty-six healthy volunteers served as a control. Olfactory function was evaluated by a modified Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center testing procedure for threshold, identification, and discrimination. The grass pollen-allergic patients were tested preseasonally and after 3 weeks of intraseasonal grass pollen exposure; the mite-allergic patients and the volunteers…

Acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane on human olfactory functioning.

Background Animal experiments indicate that 1,1,1-trichloroethane can cause degeneration of the olfactory epithelium. The effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane on human odor perception still have not been investigated. The goal of this study was to learn more about acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Methods Twelve healthy, nonsmoking students were exposed to 200 and 20 ppm (control) 1,1,1-trichloroethane in an exposure chamber for 4 hours according to a crossover design. Olfactory functioning was investigated with the Sniffin’ Sticks. The test includes the determination of the detection threshold for n-butanol and an odor identification test. Results After 1 hour of exposure to 200 ppm 1,1,…

Factors associated with efficacy of an ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine combination drug in pharmacy customers with common cold symptoms

SummaryAim The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting efficacy of treatment of common cold symptoms with an over-the-counter ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine combination product. Methods Data from an anonymous survey among 1770 pharmacy customers purchasing the combination product for treatment of own common cold symptoms underwent post-hoc descriptive analysis. Scores of symptoms typically responsive to ibuprofen (headache, pharyngeal pain, joint pain and fever), typically responsive to pseudoephedrine (congested nose, congested sinus and runny nose), considered non-specific (sneezing, fatigue, dry cough, cough with expectoration) and comprising all 11 symptoms were analysed. Multiple…

S2k-Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Patienten mit Asthma – Addendum 2020

ZusammenfassungDas vorliegende Addendum zur Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Patienten mit Asthma (2017) ergänzt wichtige neue Erkenntnisse zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Asthma sowie zu neu für die Therapie des Asthmas zugelassenen Medikamenten. Es werden sowohl für Kinder und Jugendliche als auch für Erwachsene mit Asthma die aktuellen, Evidenz-basierten diagnostischen und therapeutischen Empfehlungen dargelegt.

Real-time simulation of tissue deformation for the nasal endoscopy simulator (NES).

Endonasal sinus surgery requires a great amount of training before it can be adequately performed. The complicated anatomy involved, the proximity of relevant structures, and the variability of the anatomy due to inborn or iatrogenic variations make several complications possible. Today, cadaver dissections are the "gold standard" for surgical training. To overcome the drawbacks of traditional training methods, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics is currently developing a highly interactive medical simulation system for nasal endoscopy and endonasal sinus surgery, in cooperation with the Mainz University Hospital. For the simulation of a rhinoscopic procedure, not only are the re…

ARIA���EAACI statement on asthma and COVID���19 (June 2, 2020)

Artículo con numerosos autores sólo se mencionan el primero y el de la UAM

ARIA digital anamorphosis: Digital transformation of health and care in airway diseases from research to practice: Review

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Indications for Computer-Assisted Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology

Indications for the use of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) in otorhinolaryngology can be grouped into several domains including the following: difficult cases involving the anterior, middle, and posterior skull base, especially the rhinobasis or laterobasis, and diseases of the petrous bone, the infratemporal fossa, the retromaxillar space, and the orbit; extended paranasal sinus surgery and revision cases with surgically altered anatomic landmarks; and use for educational purposes where CAS can provide better instruction in surgical anatomy by relating the surgical field to radiological sectional images. A new field for CAS is surgery of the inferior neck soft tissues or pathologic process…

Endoscope‐microscope combination for endonasal sinus surgery

Lateralized and Bilateral Olfactory Function in Patients With Chronic Sinusitis Compared With Healthy Control Subjects

Results of this study demonstrated that a new olfactory test, the "Sniffin' Sticks," can be used to distinguish hyposmic patients with chronic sinusitis (n = 63) from control subjects. Dirhinic testing yielded improved olfactory sensitivity compared with monorhinic testing. However, dirhinic results were not significantly different from results obtained for the best nostril.

Short-term preseasonal birch pollen allergoid immunotherapy influences symptoms, specific nasal provocation and cytokine levels in nasal secretions, but not peripheral T-cell responses, in patients with allergic rhinitis

Backround Birch pollen allergic rhinitis can be sufficiently treated with specific subcutaneous allergoid immunotherapy (IT). However, little is known about the clinical and immunological effects of short-term therapy protocols. Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of a birch pollen allergoid IT using seven preseasonal injections and to evaluate immunological parameters that might explain clinical findings. Methods Thirty-seven patients were included into the study and randomized to either a symptomatic treatment or allergoid IT plus symptomatic treatment. Patients were examined during the pre-IT season, at two extraseasonal visits both before and after IT and during the post-IT s…

Norm values for eosinophil cationic protein in nasal secretions: influence of specimen collection

Background Eosinophil granulocytes play an important role in allergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a specific eosinophil granule protein released upon activation of these cells. ECP concentration in nasal secretions has been demonstrated to be a good marker for the activity of eosinophilic nasal mucosal inflammation. The clinical use of such a marker requires defined values which are regarded as pathological or within normal range. In analyses of nasal secretion samples, the sampling method has an important influence on the data obtained. Objective We investigated ECP levels in nasal secretions (NS) of healthy volunteers obtained by seven different …

A Passive-Marker-Based Optical System for Computer-Aided Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology: Development and First Clinical Experiences

Objectives: To develop a new type of optical computer-aided surgery (CAS) device that overcomes some of the restrictions of common systems and to examine its accuracy and usability under laboratory and intraoperative conditions. Study Design: Prospective study using laboratory experiments and intraoperative data collection. Methods: An optical CAS system applying passive optical markers for coordinate determination was developed. Laboratory accuracy measurements were obtained on a Plexiglas model with known coordinates of fiducial markers, before and after predefined table movements. Intraoperative accuracy measurements were recorded from 24 patients undergoing endonasal surgery of the para…

Die Bedeutung eosinophiler Granulozyten in Beziehung zu Allergie und Aspirin-Intoleranz bei Patienten mit Sinusitis polyposa

BACKGROUND The development of nasal polyps might be influenced by different factors such as mucosal inflammation. Infiltration with eosinophils is a common finding, although in largely different quantitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We investigated 58 patients suffering from nasal polyps who were assigned for endonasal sinus surgery based on endoscopic and CT findings. Out of these patients, 52% have already had sinus surgery and had recurrent polyps. All patients were subjected to both, allergy testing and a functional in vitro test for aspirin intolerance. During surgery, tissue samples were gained and send for histological examination with special respect to eosinophil infiltration. RESULTS Eo…

Endoscopic surgery of the rhinobasis with a computer-assisted localizer

The endoscope is useful for the diagnosis and surgical therapy of diseases of the nose, the paranasal sinuses and its neighboring regions, and allows for microinvasive, functional approaches. The reduced invasiveness of therapeutic procedures is sometimes accompanied by insufficient clearness of the surgical field, however. This significant problem is solved by the computer-assisted-surgery (CAS) system, an intraoperative localizer. It allows continuous orientation based on three-dimensional reconstructed preoperative CT scans with superimposed positioning of the endoscope. We have now adapted CAS for endoscopic sinus surgery, which meant that a variety of visualization methods were tested.…

EAACI Position paper on the standardization of nasal allergen challenges.

DR. FARID, S.H. M.H. M. Kn. - FR FARID/0000-0003-0372-4963; Gevaert, Philippe/0000-0002-1629-8468; Hox, Valerie/0000-0003-2390-294X; Wagenman, Martin/0000-0002-9734-0241; Vent, Julia/0000-0001-5071-9580 WOS: 000438710600002 PubMed: 29377177 Nasal allergen challenge (NAC) is an important tool to diagnose allergic rhinitis. In daily clinical routine, experimentally, or when measuring therapeutic success clinically, nasal allergen challenge is fundamental. It is further one of the key diagnostic tools when initiating specific allergen immunotherapy. So far, national recommendations offered guidance on its execution; however, international divergence left many questions unanswered. These differ…

Correlation between work impairment, scores of rhinitis severity and asthma using the MASK-air ® App

Background: In allergic rhinitis, a relevant outcome providing information on the effectiveness of interventions is needed. In MASK-air (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for work is used as a relevant outcome. This study aimed to assess the performance of the work VAS work by comparing VAS work with other VAS measurements and symptom-medication scores obtained concurrently. Methods: All consecutive MASK-air users in 23 countries from 1 June 2016 to 31 October 2018 were included (14 189 users; 205 904 days). Geolocalized users self-assessed daily symptom control using the touchscreen functionality on their smart phone to click on VAS scores (ranging from 0 to 1…

Management of anaphylaxis due to COVID-19 vaccines in the elderly

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Increased in vitro cvsteinvl leukotriene release from blood leukocytes in patients with asthma, nasal polyps, and aspirin intolerance

In vitro cysteinyl leukotriene (cLT) release from blood leukocytes was measured in eight normal individuals (NI), nine patients with nasal polyps (NP) without aspirin intolerance, and eight patients with NP, asthma, and aspirin intolerance (AI). Blood leukocytes were prestimulated with interleukin-3 (IL-3) and incubated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (10 and 100 micrograms/ml) together with C5a (10(-8) mol/l) for 18 h. cLT release (LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4) from blood leukocytes was measured with a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. Background cLT release was 259 +/- 66 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM) in the NI group, 185 +/- 33 pg/ml in the NP group, and 578 +/- 136 pg/ml in the AI group (P = 0.1). A…

The effects of short-term immunotherapy using molecular standardized grass and rye allergens compared with symptomatic drug treatment on rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms, skin sensitivity, and specific nasal reactivity.

The efficacy and safety of short-term immunotherapy with molecular standardized allergens (STI) has been demonstrated by double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials. The aim of this study was to compare STI with symptomatic drug treatment.Forty-eight patients with rhinoconjunctivitis to grass and/or rye pollen were treated either with STI (ALK(7), n = 24) plus anti-allergic drugs or anti-allergic drugs, alone (n = 24) in a prospective, randomized study. Symptoms and use of drugs were reported in patient diaries and titrated nasal provocation and skin prick tests were performed at baseline, before, and after season.Median overall symptom (P = 0.022, U test) and medication scores (P = 0.0…

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018): Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second c…

Allergy immunotherapy across the life cycle to promote active and healthy ageing: from research to policies: An AIRWAYS Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) programme item (Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing) and the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD), a World Health Organization GARD research demonstration project.

Allergic diseases often occur early in life and persist throughout life. This life-course perspective should be considered in allergen immunotherapy. In particular it is essential to understand whether this al treatment may be used in old age adults. The current paper was developed by a working group of AIRWAYS integrated care pathways for airways diseases, the model of chronic respiratory diseases of the European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing (DG CONNECT and DG Santé). It considered (1) the political background, (2) the rationale for allergen immunotherapy across the life cycle, (3) the unmet needs for the treatment, in particular in preschool children and old age adu…

A new method for the placement of brachytherapy probes in paranasal sinus and nasopharynx neoplasms

Abstract Purpose: In afterloading therapy, the exact placement of the applicator is crucial for the result of radiotherapy. A deviation of few millimeters from the target leads to a significant reduction of radiation energy to the tumor. Methods and Materials: We present a new method using a computer-assisted device for three-dimensional placing of afterloading probes based on CT scans that allows for the exact placement. Results: Target points have been reached with an accuracy of 0.6 mm. Since 1991 we have used this technique for 24 clinical applications in 11 patients with recurrent neoplasms in the region of the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx for palliative treatment. Conclusions: Th…

Prostaglandin E2 activates the ciliary beat frequency of cultured human nasal mucosa via the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Prostaglandins influence the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of ciliated nasal epithelial cells and a stimulatory effect has been described for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Until now, it is not known whether PGE2 has direct ciliostimulatory properties or acts through a second messenger. In this study we investigated whether cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is implicated in the signal transduction pathway of PGE2-induced activation of CBF. Ciliated cells of the nasal mucosa were cultured for up to 5 days whereafter the culture medium was removed and the cells were incubated with different concentrations of test solutions. The ciliated cells were recorded under a phase-contrast microscope and v…

Cabbage and fermented vegetables: from death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

International audience; Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1 R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance …

Tree-pollen allergy is efficiently treated by short-term immunotherapy (STI) with seven preseasonal injections of molecular standardized allergens.

The efficacy and tolerance of short-term immunotherapy (STI) by seven preseasonal injections of tree-pollen allergens (ALK7 Fruhbluhermischung) was investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study with 111 rhinoconjunctivitis patients. Nasal and bronchial symptoms simultaneously analyzed, and nasal symptoms as a single end point, but not the overall score of nasal, bronchial, and conjunctival symptoms, showed a significantly lower increase with STI during birch-pollen exposure (both P=0.033, n=105, Mann-Whitney U-test). However, a selective analysis with patients from centers with high recruitment figures (n> or =10 patients, n=29 STI, n=32 placebo) showed a significant…

The exposure of healthy volunteers to 200 ppm 1,1,1-trichloroethane increases the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in nasal secretions

Objectives: Irritating effects of organic solvents have usually been measured by means of questionnaires. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity of different methods of detecting subclinical irritating effects. Methods: Twelve healthy, non-smoking students were exposed to 200 ppm and to 20 ppm 1,1,1-trichloroethane in an exposure chamber, using a crossover design. The amounts of interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in nasal secretions were measured. Mucociliary transport time was determined with the saccharine test. Ciliary beat frequency of nasal epithelial cells was measured with video-interference contrast microscopy. Subjective symptoms w…