Nasal immune gene expression in response to azelastine and fluticasone propionate combination or monotherapy.

Background: The combination of the antihistamine azelastine (AZE) with the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate (FP) in a single spray, has been reported to be significantly more effective at reducing allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms than treatment with either corticosteroid or antihistamine monotherapy. However, the biological basis for enhanced symptom relief is not known. This study aimed to compare gene expression profiles (760 immune genes, performed with the NanoString nCounter) from peripheral blood and nasal brushing/lavage lysate samples in response to nasal spray treatment.

Adult allergic rhinitis sufferers have unique nasal mucosal and peripheral blood immune gene expression profiles: A case-control study.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a complex disease involving both mucosal and systemic immune compartments. Greater understanding of the immune networks underpinning AR pathophysiology may assist with further refining disease-specific biomarkers.

Objective: To compare immune gene expression profiles in nasal mucosa and peripheral blood samples between adults with AR and controls without AR.

The Gut Microbiome of Adults with Allergic Rhinitis Is Characterised by Reduced Diversity and an Altered Abundance of Key Microbial Taxa Compared to Controls.

Introduction: Unique gut microbial colonisation patterns are associated with the onset of allergic disease in infants; however, there is insufficient evidence to determine if aberrant microbial composition patterns persist in adult allergic rhinitis (AR) sufferers.

Objective: To compare the gut microbiome composition between adult AR sufferers and controls.

Methods: Gut microbial composition in stool samples was compared between 57 adult AR sufferers (39.

Digital Immune Gene Expression Profiling Discriminates Allergic Rhinitis Responders from Non-Responders to Probiotic Supplementation.

Probiotic supplementation for eight weeks with a multi-strain probiotic by individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR) reduced overall symptom severity, the frequency of medication use and improved quality of life. The purported mechanism of action is modulation of the immune system. This analysis examined changes in systemic and mucosal immune gene expression in a subgroup of individuals, classified as either responders or non-responders based on improvement of AR symptoms in response to the probiotic supplement.

Aliphatic Polyester Thermoplastic Elastomers Containing Hydrogen-Bonding Ureidopyrimidinone Endgroups.

Polylactide- block-poly(γ-methyl-ε-caprolactone)- block-polylactide (LML) is a sustainable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) candidate that exhibits competitive mechanical properties as compared to traditional styrenic TPEs. The relatively low glass transition temperature of the polylactide endblocks, however, results in stress relaxation and low levels of elastic recovery. We report the synthesis and characterization of poly(γ-methyl-ε-caprolactone) (PMCL) and LML end-functionalized with ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) hydrogen-bonding moieties to improve the elastic performance of these polymers.

Modulation of Allergic Inflammation in the Nasal Mucosa of Allergic Rhinitis Sufferers With Topical Pharmaceutical Agents.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic upper respiratory disease estimated to affect between 10 and 40% of the worldwide population. The mechanisms underlying AR are highly complex and involve multiple immune cells, mediators, and cytokines. As such, the development of a single drug to treat allergic inflammation and/or symptoms is confounded by the complexity of the disease pathophysiology.

Expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antibiotic Resistance Genes Varies Greatly during Infections in Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

The lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) become chronically infected with that is difficult to eradicate by antibiotic treatment. Two key antibiotic resistance mechanisms are the AmpC β-lactamase that degrades β-lactam antibiotics and MexXYOprM, a three-protein efflux pump that expels aminoglycoside antibiotics from the bacterial cells. Levels of antibiotic resistance gene expression are likely to be a key factor in antibiotic resistance but have not been determined during infection.

Distinct Gene Expression Patterns between Nasal Mucosal Cells and Blood Collected from Allergic Rhinitis Sufferers.

Background: Investigations of gene expression in allergic rhinitis (AR) typically rely on invasive nasal biopsies (site of inflammation) or blood samples (systemic immunity) to obtain sufficient genetic material for analysis. New methodologies to circumvent the need for invasive sample collection offer promise to further the understanding of local immune mechanisms relevant in AR.

Methods: A within-subject design was employed to compare immune gene expression profiles obtained from nasal washing/brushing and whole blood samples collected during peak pollen season.

A Specifically Designed Multispecies Probiotic Supplement Relieves Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms.

Background: Probiotics are purported to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This study sought to determine the proportion of participants with an improvement in the mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mRQLQ) in response to a multispecies probiotic supplement with a Simon Two-Stage design.

Methods: This study was based on a Simon Two-Stage Design for p-p = 0.

Non-typeable detection in the lower airways of patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity to bacterial infection may contribute to lung cancer pathogenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that nontypeable (NTHi) is the most common colonizing bacteria in the lower airways of patients with COPD. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of NTHi and immunoglobulin concentrations in patients with lung cancer, COPD and controls.

Strong, Resilient, and Sustainable Aliphatic Polyester Thermoplastic Elastomers.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) composed of ABA block polymers exhibit a wide variety of properties and are easily processable as they contain physical, rather than chemical, cross-links. Poly(γ-methyl-ε-caprolactone) (PγMCL) is an amorphous polymer with a low entanglement molar mass (M = 2.9 kg mol), making it a suitable choice for tough elastomers.

Probiotics and Allergic Rhinitis: A Simon Two-Stage Design to Determine Effectiveness.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic upper respiratory disease affecting 10-30% of the population worldwide. It associated with significant economic and medical burden. Probiotics have received attention in recent years as a novel strategy to treat infectious/immune conditions, including AR.

Effects of short-term supplementation with bovine lactoferrin and/or immunoglobulins on body mass and metabolic measures: a randomised controlled trial.

Given the role of the intestinal microbiota in obesity and related disease, strategies to modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota may augment traditional weight-management approaches. Here, we examined the safety and tolerability of 28 days of supplementation with bovine whey-derived lactoferrin and immunoglobulin supplements in a cross-sectional cohort of free-living adults. Participants (n = 20 each group) received enteric-coated whey-derived bovine lactoferrin (200 mg), immunoglobulin (200 mg or 800 mg), combination lactoferrin/immunoglobuiln supplements (200 mg/200 mg, 200 mg/800 mg) or placebo in a double-blind design.

Polysilylether: A Degradable Polymer from Biorenewable Feedstocks.

The synthesis of polysilylethers (PSEs) using a monomer derived from a biorenewable feedstock is reported. The AB-type monomer was synthesized from undecenoic acid through hydrosilylation and reduction, and the polymerization was catalyzed by earth-abundant metal salts. High-molar-mass products were achieved, and the degree of polymerization was controlled by varying the amount of an AA-type monomer in the reaction.

Adaptation of iron homeostasis pathways by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyoverdine mutant in the cystic fibrosis lung.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients suffer from chronic bacterial lung infections, most notably by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which persists for decades in the lungs and undergoes extensive evolution. P. aeruginosa requires iron for virulence and uses the fluorescent siderophore pyoverdine to scavenge and solubilize ferric iron during acute infections.