Current and emerging pharmacotherapy for pediatric allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem in adults as well as the younger population, continuously increasing and posing a significant problem for patients, health care systems and economies. For the younger population, some aspects differ from treatment of adults, namely, prevention, compliance and adherence.

Areas Covered: This narrative review summarizes all the pharmacotherapeutic options with special focus on the pediatric population.

Olfactory cleft proteome does not reflect olfactory performance in patients with idiopathic and postinfectious olfactory disorder: A pilot study.

Technical advances including liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its data analysis enable detailed proteomic analysis of the nasal mucus. Alterations of the nasal mucus proteome may provoke substantial changes of the nasal physiology and have already been associated with rhinologic diseases such as allergic rhinitis. This study was conducted as a pilot study to map the olfactory cleft proteome using current techniques for proteomic analysis.

Extracts of different pollen species and their effect on human tear fluid and an epithelial cell line.

Purpose: Hazelnut and birch pollen are known to destroy tear film components and attack ocular surface cells. We investigated further pollen species from different plant families, whether they show similar effects on human tear fluid and an epithelial cell line in vitro, to provide a broad basis for further research on pollen reactions affecting the tear film and ocular surface.

Materials And Methods: Regional pollen species from different plant families (Adoxaceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Pinaceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae) were collected.

Seasonal proteome changes of nasal mucus reflect perennial inflammatory response and reduced defence mechanisms and plasticity in allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Nasal mucus and its proteins are a defence against allergens. We sought to investigate dynamic proteome changes in allergic rhinitis upon environmental allergen provocation.

Methods: Nasal mucus was collected in and out of pollen season from allergic rhinitis patients (N=10) and healthy controls (N=12).

Altered inhibitory function of the E-type prostanoid receptor 4 in eosinophils and monocytes from aspirin-intolerant patients.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). E-type prostanoid (EP) receptor 4 is known to confer inhibitory signals to eosinophils and monocytes, amongst others. In this study, we investigated whether the responsiveness of eosinophils and monocytes to PGE2 and EP4 receptor activation is altered in AERD patients.

Apolipoproteins have a potential role in nasal mucus of allergic rhinitis patients: a proteomic study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Nasal mucus is a defense barrier against aeroallergens. We recently found apolipoproteins to be elevated in the nasal mucus of allergic rhinitis patients. Apolipoproteins are involved in lipid metabolism, have immunomodulatory properties, and may represent interesting novel biomarkers.

Nasal mucus proteomic changes reflect altered immune responses and epithelial permeability in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Nasal mucus is the first-line defense barrier against (aero-) allergens. However, its proteome and function have not been clearly investigated.

Objective: The role of nasal mucus in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis was investigated by analyzing its proteome in patients with allergic rhinitis (n = 29) and healthy control subjects (n = 29).

Feasibility of routine paranasal sinus CT-scans in preoperative transplant patients.

Background: Paranasal Sinus (PNS) CT- scans are routinely performed for screening of sinusitis in patients scheduled for organ transplant at the University Hospital Graz. This study was performed to evaluate whether routine PNS CT-scans are necessary in every transplant patient or in selected cases only, because clear evidence is missing in literature.

Material/methods: 142 patients (113 male, 29 female) were included in this retrospective patient chart study.

EP4 receptor stimulation down-regulates human eosinophil function.

Accumulation of eosinophils in tissue is a hallmark of allergic inflammation. Here we observed that a selective agonist of the PGE(2) receptor EP4, ONO AE1-329, potently attenuated the chemotaxis of human peripheral blood eosinophils, upregulation of the adhesion molecule CD11b and the production of reactive oxygen species. These effects were accompanied by the inhibition of cytoskeletal rearrangement and Ca(2+) mobilization.

Nasal IL-5 levels determine the response to anti-IL-5 treatment in patients with nasal polyps.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is characterized by an eosinophilic inflammation and high IL-5 levels.

Objectives: Antagonizing the effect of IL-5 is a potential new treatment strategy in patients with nasal polyps.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 2-center safety and pharmacokinetic study, 24 subjects with bilateral nasal polyps were randomized to receive a single intravenous infusion of reslizumab, a humanized anti-human IL-5 mAb, at 3 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg or placebo.

Plasmapheresis reverses all side-effects of a cisplatin overdose--a case report and treatment recommendation.

Background: Cisplatin is widely used as an antineoplastic agent since it is effective against a broad spectrum of different tumours. Nevertheless, it has several potential side effects affecting different organ systems and an overdose may lead to life-threatening complications and even death.

Case Presentation: We report on a 46-year old woman with non-small cell lung cancer who accidentally received 225 mg/m2 of cisplatin, which was threefold the dose as scheduled, within a 3-day period.

5-Oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid is a potent chemoattractant for human basophils.

Background: 5-Oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxo-ETE) is a chemoattractant for eosinophils and neutrophils, and the messenger RNA for its receptor, the oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid receptor (OXE), has been detected in several tissues.

Objectives: This study aimed at clarifying the role of 5-oxo-ETE in the regulation of basophil function.

Methods: Basophil responses were determined in assays of flow-cytometric shape change, Ca(2+) flux, chemotaxis, and histamine release.

Influence of sensitization to inhalative allergens on adenotonsillar disease.

Objective: We sought to determine the influence of IgE-mediated sensitization on adenotonsillar disease in children. We compared follow-up after tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy of atopic and nonatopic children.Study design and setting A prospective study of 293 children consecutively undergoing tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy was conducted at a university hospital center.