Publications by authors named "Duy L Pham"

Five potential allergens of freshwater crab (Somanniathelphusa sinensis), including hemocyanin, have been discovered. Specific IgE to haemocyanin was increased in crab-allergic than in crab-tolerant patients. The add-on of specific IgE to hemocyanin to skin prick test enhanced the specificity of the crab allergy diagnosis.

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Eosinophilic gastroenteritis poses a significant diagnostic challenge, particularly in developing countries, where the awareness of this condition may be limited. Here, the case of a patient in her early 30s, who presented with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea, is reported. Initial standard laboratory investigations revealed normal complete blood counts and elevated total serum immunoglobulin E levels.

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Article Synopsis
  • Kimura disease (KD) is a rare, benign inflammatory condition mainly seen in Asian males, marked by tissue masses, swollen lymph nodes, and elevated eosinophil and IgE levels.
  • A unique case of KD was reported in a 31-year-old Vietnamese woman with facial masses and long-standing itching, with biopsy results confirming the diagnosis.
  • The findings suggest that KD can occur in females and emphasize the importance of histopathological examinations for accurate diagnosis, highlighting the need for increased awareness of this condition among Asian women.
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Purpose: Although some immune protection from close contact with individuals who have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been documented, there is limited data on the seroprevalence of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals who were in lockdown with confirmed COVID-19 cases. This study investigated immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 in household members and people who lived near home-quarantined patients with COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the community-based care that took place during lockdowns in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from July to September 2021.

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  • Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is a type of chronic rhinosinusitis caused by immune reactions to molds, and diagnosing it is complicated due to similar features between its systemic and local forms.
  • A study with 200 patients revealed that 31% were diagnosed with AFRS, with slightly more having the systemic type (54.8%) compared to the local type (45.2%).
  • Key differences in clinical signs and allergic markers were noted, but significant distinctions between the systemic and local forms were minimal, indicating that a thorough approach using skin and nasal tests is important for better diagnosis and treatment.
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Background: Allergy to penicillin is commonly reported in many countries and is an overwhelming global public health concern. Penicillin allergy labels can lead to the use of less effective antibiotics and can be associated with antimicrobial resistance. Appropriate assessment of suspected penicillin allergy (often including skin testing, followed by drug provocation testing [DPT] performed by allergists) can prevent the unnecessary restriction of penicillin or delabelling.

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Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by an impaired epidermal barrier, which could be associated with sensitization to food allergens (FAs) and/or inhaled allergens and contribute to the severity of AD. However, no clinical guidance has been established for evaluations of food sensitization (FS) in AD patients. This study investigated how AD severity and epidermal barrier impairment are associated with FS and factors that can predict FS in children with AD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Asthma is a common disease affecting both kids and adults, with many struggling to control symptoms even while using medications.
  • Allergic reactions to environmental allergens like dust mites, cockroaches, and molds are linked to severe asthma, but the types of allergens can vary by region.
  • Avoiding these allergens is crucial for asthma management, as it may help reduce symptoms and the risk of asthma attacks; more research is needed to develop effective avoidance strategies.
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Climate change and environmental factors such as air pollution and loss of biodiversity are known to have a major impact not only on allergic diseases but also on many noncommunicable diseases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in many environmental changes during the different phases of the pandemic. The use of face masks, enhanced hand hygiene with hand rubs and sanitizers, use of personal protective equipment (gowns and gloves), and safe-distancing measures, reduced the overall incidence of respiratory infections and other communicable diseases.

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Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss produces a valuable timber but plantations are susceptible to attack by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipyla robusta Moore. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is desirable to limit the extent of damage.

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Background: Climatic and geographical characteristics may alter the plant distribution and thereby the patterns of allergens.

Objective: To evaluate the profile of allergen sensitization in patients in southern Vietnam and its association with allergic diseases.

Methods: We collected data of 423 patients who visited the Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center, Vietnam from 2014 to 2021, from their medical records.

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Background: Physicians' knowledge and practice which are consistent with evidence-based guidelines can improve allergic rhinitis (AR) patients' care. Compared with western countries, the available literature about Asian doctors' perceptions and clinical practices regarding Allergic Rhinitis and its Impacts on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines is limited.

Objective: To collect detailed information about the practical management patterns specific for AR patients and investigate compliance with ARIA in the clinical practice of Asian physicians and elucidate the possible inadequacy in the existing ARIA guidelines.

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Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently in its third year. This follow-up survey was commissioned by the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI) Task Force on COVID-19 to compare and contrast changes in the epidemiology, clinical profile, therapeutics and public health measures of the pandemic in the Asia Pacific region.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey comprising 32 questions was electronically sent out to all 15 member countries of APAAACI using Survey Monkey® from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022.

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In response to a call for help during a surge in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) cases in Ho Chi Minh City in July 2021, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City developed and implemented a community care model for the management of patients with COVID-19. This was based on three main principles: home care; providing monitoring and care at a distance; and providing timely emergency care if needed. One team supported patients at home with frequent contacts and remote monitoring, while a second team transferred and cared for patients requiring treatment at field emergency care facilities.

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Purpose Of Review: To highlight the characteristics of allergic rhinitis, local allergic rhinitis (LAR), and importance of allergens in Southeast Asian countries.

Recent Findings: The Asia-Pacific region is very diverse with disparities in the epidemiological data between countries as well as in the unmet needs. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has markedly increased in the past decades, with a high variation between countries, ranging from 4.

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Background: Activated eosinophils release extracellular traps (EETs), which contribute to airway inflammation in severe asthma (SA). However, the role of EETs in innate immunity has not yet been completely determined. The present study aimed to demonstrate the mechanism of airway inflammation in SA mediated by EETs.

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Purpose: Neutrophils are considered key effector cells in the pathogenic mechanisms of airway inflammation in asthma. This study assessed the activation status of neutrophils in adult asthmatics, and the therapeutic potential of FTY720, a synthetic sphingosine-1-phosphate analog, on activated neutrophils using an stimulation model.

Methods: We isolated peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs) from 59 asthmatic patients (including 20 aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease [AERD] and 39 aspirin-tolerant asthma [ATA] groups).

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Background: Clinical features of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) are characterized by overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT) and eosinophil activation, in which epithelial cells contribute to eosinophilic airway inflammation. Folliculin (FLCN) helps maintain the integrity of epithelial barrier, but little is known about FLCN in AERD.

Objective: We investigated the role of FLCN in the pathogenic mechanisms of AERD.

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The ambrosia beetle, Platypus quercivorus (Murayama), is the vector of a fungal pathogen that causes mass mortality of Fagaceae trees (Japanese oak wilt). Therefore, knowing the dispersal capacity may help inform trapping/tree removal efforts to prevent this disease more effectively. In this study, we measured the flight velocity and duration and estimated the flight distance of the beetle using a newly developed flight mill.

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Type 2-immunity represents the typical adaptive response to allergen exposure in atopic individuals. It mainly involves Th2 cells and immunoglobulin E, as the main orchestrators of type 2-inflammation. Recently, it has been highlighted that allergens may be responsible for a Th2 response beside specific IgE activation and that a number of other environmental stimuli, such as viruses and pollutants, can trigger the same pattern of inflammation beyond atopy.

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Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposure can directly activate and damage airway epithelium. Folliculin (FLCN) is a protein expressed by human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) to maintain airway epithelial integrity and survival. This study investigated the involvement of FLCN in the pathogenesis of TDI-induced occupational asthma (OA).

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Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate expressions of inflammatory genes, thereby regulating inflammatory responses. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNAs could affect their efficiency in binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs).

Objective: We investigated the associations of miRNA SNPs with asthma phenotypes.

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Increased filaggrin expression was found to be correlated with severity scores in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); however, the role of filaggrin breakdown products (FBPs) in CSU has not been studied. We collected stratum corneum (SC) specimens from the volar forearms of 10 CSU patients, 10 AD patients, and 10 healthy normal controls (NCs) and measured contents of FBPs (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid [PCA] and urocanic acid [UCA]) using UPLC-MS/MS, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and epidermal pH. Compared to NCs, cis-UCA level was increased in CSU lesions (P < 0.

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