Criteria to evaluate efficacy of biologics in asthma: a Global Asthma Association survey.

Background: Currently, there are no universally accepted criteria to measure the response to biologics available as treatment for severe asthma. This survey aims to establish consensus criteria to use for the evaluation of response to biologics after 4 months of treatment.

Method: Using Delphi methodology, a questionnaire including 10 items was validated by 13 international experts in asthma.

Management of adult asthma and chronic rhinitis as one airway disease.

: Chronic rhinitis is defined as nasal inflammation with the presence of minimum two symptoms such as nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing and/or itching one hour daily for a minimum of 12 weeks/year. According their etiology, four groups of rhinitis are described: allergic, infectious, non-allergic non-infectious and mixed.Chronic rhinitis is frequently associated with asthma, shares similar mechanisms of the pathogenesis and has a negative impact of its outcomes sustaining the concept of unified airways disease.

Manifesto on united airways diseases (UAD): an Interasma (global asthma association - GAA) document.

Objective: The large amount of evidence and the renewed interest in upper and lower airways involvement in infectious and inflammatory diseases has led Interasma (Global Asthma Association) to take a position on United Airways Diseases (UAD).

Methods: Starting from an extensive literature review, Interasma executive committee discussed and approved this Manifesto developed by Interasma scientific network (INES) members.

Results: The manifesto describes the evidence gathered to date and defines, states, advocates, and proposes issues on UAD (rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis), and concomitant/comorbid lower airways disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnoea) with the aim of challenging assumptions, fostering commitment, and bringing about change.

Impact of Air Pollution on Asthma Outcomes.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. Evidence suggests that air pollution has a negative impact on asthma outcomes in both adult and pediatric populations. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the effect of various outdoor and indoor pollutants on asthma outcomes, their burden on its management, as well as to highlight the measures that could result in improved asthma outcomes.

Progress in Occupational Asthma.

Occupational asthma (OA) represents one of the major public health problems due to its high prevalence, important social and economic burden. The aim of this review is to summarize current data about clinical phenotypes, biomarkers, diagnosis and management of OA, a subtype of work-related asthma. Most studies have identified two phenotypes of OA.

Allergen immunotherapy in asthma: current evidence.

Allergic asthma is the predominant phenotype in clinical practice. Allergen immunotherapy is the only curative and specific approach for the treatment of allergies with clinical benefits for several years after its discontinuation. Despite advances, the use of allergen immunotherapy in allergic asthma is still suboptimal and controversial.

Beta-blockers in asthma: myth and reality.

: Patients with asthma often have important co-morbidities which reduce the likelihood of gaining optimal asthma control. Beta2-blockers are commonly prescribed for the treatment of different clinical indications, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmia, arterial hypertension, heart failure and glaucoma. : The aim of this reviw is to summarize current evidence on the effect of systemic and local β-blockers on asthma outcomes based on their pharmacologic properties,and to help clinicians when prescribing for patients with asthma and co-morbidities.

Current opinions for the management of asthma associated with ear, nose and throat comorbidities.

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) comorbidities are common in patients with asthma and are frequently associated with poorer asthma outcomes. All these comorbidities are "treatable traits" in asthma. Identification and management of these disorders may spare medication usage and contribute to improved asthma control and quality of life, and a decrease in exacerbation rates.

A Three-Year Course of House Dust Mite Sublingual Immunotherapy Appears Effective in Controlling the Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis.

Background Allergic rhinitis is the most common allergic disorder. Although the management of the disease is successful in many patients, based on guidelines, some of them remain with symptoms uncontrolled with pharmacotherapy. Presently, there is no substantiated information on the control of allergic rhinitis in patients who underwent sublingual immunotherapy.

Phenotypes/endotypes-driven treatment in asthma.

Purpose Of Review: Target therapy is the necessary step towards personalized medicine. The definition of asthma phenotypes and underlying mechanisms (endotypes) represent a key point in the development of new asthma treatments. Big data analysis, biomarker research and the availability of monoclonal antibodies, targeting specific cytokines is leading to the rapid evolution of knowledge.

Quality of life improvement after a three-year course of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with house dust mite and grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis: results from real-life.

Background: Along with its high prevalence, the burden of allergic rhinitis rests upon the serious impact on quality of life of patients. Allergic rhinitis is associated with impairments in daily activities, work and school performance, and practical problems. Patients suffer from sleep disorders and emotional problems.