Effect of an Intranasal Corticosteroid on Quality of Life and Local Microbiome in Young Children With Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Intranasal corticosteroids (INCs) remain the first-line treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in both adults and children, despite the lack of evidence regarding their efficacy in the pediatric population. Similarly, their effect on the sinonasal microbiome has not been well documented.

Objective: To assess the clinical, immunological, and microbiological effects of 12 weeks of an INC in young children with CRS.

Upper-airway dysbiosis related to frequent sweets consumption increases the risk of asthma in children with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Innate immunity response to local dysbiosis seems to be one of the most important immunologic backgrounds of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and concomitant asthma. We aimed to assess clinical determinants of upper-airway dysbiosis and its effect on nasal inflammatory profile and asthma risk in young children with CRS.

Methods: We recruited one hundred and thirty-three children, aged 4-8 years with doctor-diagnosed CRS with or without asthma.

Prevalence, risk factors and underdiagnosis of asthma in the general population aged over 60 years.

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is one of the frequent chronic diseases in elderly persons. Global data show that 6.5-17% of the elderly suffer from asthma.

The position paper of the Polish Society of Allergology on climate changes, natural disasters and allergy and asthma.

The observed global climate change is an indisputable cause of the increased frequency of extreme weather events and related natural disasters. This phenomenon is observed all over the world including Poland. Moreover, Polish citizens as tourists are also exposed to climate phenomena that do not occur in our climate zone.

The prevalence of asthma work relatedness: Preliminary data.

Objectives: About 5-10% of asthmatics do not respond well to standard treatment plan. Occupational exposure may be one of the factors that can be linked with treatment failure. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of work-related asthma (WRA) among adult asthmatics under follow up in an outpatient allergy clinic and to create a useful tool for detecting individuals with possible WRA.

Occupational exposure to diisocyanates in polyurethane foam factory workers.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to diisocyanates (DIC) among polyurethane foam products factory workers.

Material And Methods: Thirty workers had a physical examination, skin prick tests with common allergens, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to diisocyanates and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of selected isocyanates in the workplace air samples as well as concentration of their metabolites in the urine samples collected from the workers of the plant were determined.

Work-related symptoms among workers exposed to black tea dust.

Background: Tea may be classified as unfermented green, semi-ferinented oolong and fermented black. All of these types are derived from Camellia sinensis, the Tea Plant, which contains the low molecular weight (LMW) agent Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), probably responsible for allergic reactions. The aim of our study was to asses the work-related allergic symptoms and IgE-mediated sensitivity among black tea packers.

Work-related respiratory symptoms among health centres cleaners: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Several studies, mostly based on questionnaire-derived data, have shown an increased risk of allergic diseases, especially asthma, among cleaners. The risk factors and etiological mechanisms are still being investigated. Occupational exposure to various chemical and biological agents may induce specific sensitization and/or irritant effects.

Occupational asthma caused by samba (Triplochiton scleroxylon) wood dust in a professional maker of wooden models of airplanes: a case study.

Objectives: Wood dust is a known occupational allergen that may induce, in exposed workers, respiratory diseases including asthma and allergic rhinitis. Samba (obeche, Triplochiton scleroxylon) is a tropical tree, which grows in West Africa, therefore, Polish workers are rarely exposed to it. This paper describes a case of occupational asthma caused by samba wood dust.

Effect of inhaled toluene diisocyanate on local immune response based on murine model for occupational asthma.

Highly reactive, low-molecular-weight diisocyanates (DIC) are the most commonly identified cause of occupational asthma (OA). Animal/clinical studies of DIC asthma have been more limited compared with atopic asthma, and an understanding of DIC pathogenesis is less clear. The aim of this study was to investigate in a mouse model, toluene diisocyanate (TDI, as 2,4-TDI isomer)-induced inflammatory reactions/cytokine profile changes in the lungs and accompanying changes in lymph node lymphocyte sub-populations.

Chlorhexidine--still an underestimated allergic hazard for health care professionals.

Chlorhexidine is a low molecular weight occupational sensitizer that can cause different delayed and immediate-type allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. It is widely used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and not only in the occupational environment as it is present in toothpaste, mouthwash, nose and eye drops and ointments. We present three cases of occupationally exposed workers with airway allergy to chlorhexidine.

Occupational allergy to squid (Loligo vulgaris).

Occupational allergy from exposure to squid has been rarely described, mainly as contact dermatitis or urticaria. Our report presents the first case of occupational asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and contact urticaria to squid in a 33-year-old seafood production worker, with documented increased eosinophilia in the nasal and tear fluids after specific inhalation challenge test (SICT) with squid. IgE-mediated sensitization to squid was confirmed by positive skin prick test and opened skin test with squid extract.

Mould sensitisation among bakers and farmers with work-related respiratory symptoms.

Fungi belong to common allergens, which can be found both in occupational and non-occupational environment. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with mould allergy among bakers and farmers reporting work-related respiratory symptoms. The study group comprised 117 bakers and 83 farmers reporting work-related respiratory symptoms.

Immunological determinants in a murine model of toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma.

Objectives: Diisocyanates (DIC) are highly reactive, low-molecular-weight chemicals which are the leading cause of occupational asthma (OA). The aim of the study was to analyze certain aspects of the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation in the airways induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI) in an experimental model in mice.

Materials And Methods: The experiment was carried out on 50 female BALB/cJ/Han/IMP mice, which were exposed by inhalation (intranasal and in the inhalation chamber) to toluene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI).

[Borreliosis in occupational medicine practice].

Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem infectious disease that can occur from bites by infected ticks. It can appear at persons exposed professionally for staying in tick feeding environment as well as persons staying in such an environment occasionally. For a few years the Lyme disease is taking the leading place amongst occupational diseases and first amongst infectious occupational diseases.

[Pathogenetic and clinical aspects of diisocyanate asthma].

Diisocyanates are currently the most common cause of occupational asthma in industrialized countries, where its prevalence ranges from less than 5% to 15%. They are mainly used in the production of polyurethane foam, plastic packagings, laminates and polyurethane paints. The diagnosis of diisocyanate asthma is often problematic due to the lack of simple diagnostic or screening tests, uncertainty of underlying mechanisms, and a multitude of other potential occupational and environmental causes of asthma.

Metal-induced asthma and chest X-ray changes in welders.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the coexisting factors and usefulness of diagnostic methods in metal-induced asthma in Polish welders.

Materials And Methods: Examination of 50 welders occupationally exposed to metals and with suspicion of metal-induced asthma (group A), 100 welders occupationally exposed to metals but without suspicion of metal-induced asthma (group B), and two control groups (10 patients with atopic asthma and 10 healthy subjects) was carried out. Questionnaire survey, clinical examination, skin prick tests to common aeroallergens and metal salts, rest spirometry tests, X-ray, metacholine challenge and a single-blind, placebo controlled specific inhalation challenge tests with metals (or work-like conditions challenge tests) were performed.

Occupational asthma due to spruce wood.

Workers exposed to a variety of wood dusts are known to experience work-related respiratory symptoms, including occupational asthma. There are, however, few reports of occupational asthma due to spruce wood. We present the case of a 31-year-old sawmill owner with severe asthma caused by exposure to spruce wood dust, who developed asthmatic symptoms after 2 years of working.

Contact blepharoconjunctivitis due to black henna--a case report.

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) can induce immediate or - more often - delayed hypersensitivity. We report the case of 48-year old female admitted to the out-patient allergy clinic a day after her visit in a beauty parlour, where she had her eyelashes and eyebrows dyed with henna. Physical examination revealed prominent edema of the upper part of the face including forehead, cheeks and eyes causing severe narrowing of the palpebral chink.

Contact allergy to metals in adolescents: nickel release from metal accessories 7 years after the implementation of the EU Nickel Directive in Poland.

Background: Contact allergy among adolescents is an important issue.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of contact allergy to metals in adolescents aged 15 years and nickel release from metal accessories that are in direct contact with the skin.

Methods: Three hundred and nine females and 219 males, all 15 years old, from randomly selected secondary schools were examined and patch tested with nickel sulfate, cobalt chloride, palladium chloride, and potassium dichromate.