[Monoclonal Antibodies in Allergic Diseases: Development, Pharmacology, and Clinical Applications].

The understanding of immunological processes associated with allergic diseases and advancements in antibody bioengineering has driven the development of specific biological therapies. Monoclonal antibodies, selectively targeting cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of allergic processes or their receptors, have emerged as a promising tool in treating various conditions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and severe atopic dermatitis. Since the approval of the first anti-CD3 mouse monoclonal antibody in 1986, remarkable progress has been achieved, marked by the development of chimeric, 'humanized,' and 'fully human' antibodies.

[The silent correlate of rhinitis on lower airway].

The respiratory tract, from the nose to the lung, behaves as an anatomical and pathophysiological unit under a holistic model. Lower airway abnormalities, such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness, reduced lung function and inflammation of the bronchial mucosa without clinical expression, have been observed in patients with rhinitis without asthma. These would be the consequence of a common systemic inflammatory phenomenon with simultaneous impact on the nose and lung.

[The need for an integrated approach to rhinitis and asthma].

Introduction: Several evidences support the concept of united airway and its pathophysiological, clinical, and therapeutic implications. The existence of rhinitis can generate greater difficulty in asthma control and higher direct and indirect health care costs, which is not sufficiently recognized by the majority of physicians who often treat them as separate entities.

Objective: To examine witness evidence of the relationship between rhinitis and asthma that contributes to the integrated approach to both pathologies.

Relationship between exhaled nitric oxide and biomarkers of atopy in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Measurement of the exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO) has been proposed as an indirect and non-invasive method to detect eosinophilic airway inflammation. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is frequently associated with high levels of FeNO. Allergic sensitization can contribute to the recruitment of eosinophils in the airway and the consequent increase in FeNO.

Assessment of nasal obstruction by subjective methods and peak nasal inspiratory flow in children and adolescents with chronic rhinitis.

Introduction: Nasal obstruction (NO) is the most irritating symptom of chronic rhinitis (CR). The results of studies that correlated subjective and objective methods of NO in children and adults were contradictory.

Objectives: To analyze the correlation between subjective NO scales and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements and compare the subjective NO assessment and PNIF in children by age.

[Comparative analysis of exhaled nitric oxide in children and teenagers with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis].

Background: There is subclinical bronchial inflammation in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). There is less evidence of inflammation of the lower airway in non-allergic rhinitis (NAR).

Objective: To investigate the inflammation of the lower airway by exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in patients with AR and NAR without asthma and its link to lung function, the severity of rhinitis, and biomarkers of atopy.

[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.

[Analysis of nasal cytology in children and adolescents with rhinitis].

Background: Nasal cytology in a easy-to apply method to differentiate rhinitis phenotypes from a physiopathogenic and diagnostic perspective. There are controversies about the relationship between clinical severity of rhinitis and inflammatory patterns expressed in the nasal cytology.

Objectives: To study the characteristic of the eosinophil and neutrophil patterns in the nasal scraping for Allergic Rhinitis (AR) and Non Allergic Rhinitis (NAR) and its relationship with the clinical grades of rhinitis established by the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthama Guideline (ARIA) Methods: In a observational, cross-sectional study we included patients aged 5 to 18 years presenting symptoms of either allergic (AR) or non- allergic rinitis (NAR) without asthma.

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.

Analysis of the flow-volume curve in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis without asthma.

Introduction: There is epidemiological, functional and pathologic evidence that relates upper and lower airways, clinically known as a single respiratory tract. Patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma may present subclinical abnormal spirometry parameters.

Objectives: To describe the results of the flow-volume curve in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma and analyze the possible associations between anthropometric, clinical and biochemical outcome measures with abnormal spirometry results.

[Diagnostic and treatment approach of chronic cough in childhood].

Chronic cough is a symptom of various respiratory and non-respiratory conditions with negative impact on quality of life of children and their families. The pediatricians should focus their efforts in search for etiological diagnosis. A careful medical history and physical examination are the mainstays of diagnosis and guidance to further studies that may contribute to detection of final causes.