[Relationship between rhinitis severity and lung function in children and adolescents without asthma].

Background: The link between upper and lower airways is recognized clinically as a “unique airway”. Subclinical spirometric abnormalities have been observed in patients with rhinitis without asthma, which could be proportional to rhinitis severity.

Objectives: To investigate possible subclinical alterations in lung function and bronchodilator reversibility in children and adolescents with allergic (AR) and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) without asthma, according to the clinical grade of rhinitis classified by ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma).

Expression of FcRn receptor in placental tissue and its relationship with IgG levels in term and preterm newborns.

Problem: IgG is the only antibody class, that is, actively transferred from the mother to the fetus across the placenta by an active, neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mediated process during pregnancy, conferring passive immunity and protection against infections to the newborn during the first months of life. Preterm infants may not receive sufficient titers of protective antibodies, as most of them are transferred only after the 34th week of gestation. Because of the great importance of this process, we investigated in a clinical setting the placental transmission of IgG antibodies in term and preterm newborns.

Clinical comparison between patients with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency and other primary immunodeficiencies.

Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are low-prevalence diseases. There are warning signs that may raise clinical suspicion. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and warning signs of patients with PID and to compare the clinical differences between selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and other PIDs.

[The relationship between rhinitis and asthma: is that all?].

The link between upper and lower airways has been observed in the past, but only carefully investigated during the last years. Allergic rhinitis and asthma are often comorbid conditions. Its relationship is supported by epidemiological, anatomical and physiological, immunopathological, clinical and therapeutic studies, mostly related to allergic rhinitis.